"we are going to maintain our position" only people doubt it a bit because they don't see enough practical evidence of our intention.
7. It does not seem to me that we have a clear enough idea of what more the Governor wants to justify us in trying to get a more unequivocal statement than those already made. I suggest that Mr. Paskin might consider this a matter particularly suitable for discussion with the Governor in Hong Kong.
Inseen
4.1.49.
FE Ranomii Ameent
muthins
Mr. Paskin
As Mr. Wallace points out, the recent statement by Mr. Mayhew was referred to in the Trees in Hong Kong before either paragraph 2 of No. 17 or the last line of paragraph 4 of No. 18 were sent, in which the Governor presses for a clear and unequivocal statement that H.M.G. is determined to maintain its position in Hong Kong come what may (it is already part of the agreed policy in regard to the defence of Hong Kong that it cannot be defended against attack by a major power in occupation of the Chinese mainland, but that is not public property).
or
-
The only conclusion I can come to is either that the Governor does not regard Mr. Mayhew's statement as adequate,
which I feel is unlikely that it escaped official notice in Hong Kong. My feeling is that any further attempt to get the Foreign Office to agree to anything more forthcoming than Mr. Mayhew's statement is likely to meet with strong Foreign Office opposition on the grounds that it will create trouble with H.M.G. either with:-
(a) the Nationalist Government of China, albeit
nearly at its last gasp perhaps;
(b) any possible Coalition Government;
or
(c) a possible victorious Communist Government;
-
with none of whom, from certain points of view, is it in H.M.G.'s interests or perhaps even in Hong Kong's interests to get at loggerheads at this juncture. I suggest, therefore, that before we do attempt to approach the Foreign Office further we ought to seek Ministerial concurrence in doing so. However, in the first instance, we might, I think, send a telegram to the Governor as in attached draft in order to clarify the situation or, alternatively, leave it to you to discuss with the Governor when you get to Hong Kong
and let us know the result.
Draft telegram conson.
4.1.1949.
41
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