48
satisfactory undertakings that its policy would be brought under.control. To ban the paper on its past record,
however exceptionable, seems needlessly wounding to Chinese pride unless they are first given an opportunity to bring it to heel. If they fail to do so within a reasonable time, we could then reconsider our attitude.
3. The presence of the Kuomintang organisation in Hong Kong, of which the San Min Chu Yi Youth Corps is a part, has we appreciate long created difficulties for the Hong Kong Government. As we see it however there are two very practical grounds in not attempting to grapple with the Party immediately, even if the Chinese Government should show themselves to be in a receptive mood as a result of the recent disturbances, and from the latest telegrams the contrary appears to be the case. These grounds are:-
(i) that no evidence to implicate the Kuomintang, (apart from the "National Times") with the squatter trouble has so far been produced; and
(ii) as Sir Ralph Stevenson argues in his telegram No. 67, any such demand would be likely to have a serious effect on Anglo-Chinese relations at a time when the Hong Kong Government are tolerating the existence within the Colony of two outlawed political parties (the Chinese Communist Party and the Democratic League) and of various dissident Chinese Generals. It seems to us to be a matter of first importance that firm measures should first be taken with these dissidents and that generally we should show proof of our will to
minimise /
Page 140Page 141
: