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the defence of military requirement we think that the British
case is weak, and we feel a little uncertainty
although on a
technical military question of this sort we speak with great
reserve and hesitation whether, even if Great Britain were
prepared to litigate the matter, it could be affirmatively
established that there was some actual military situation at
present subsisting or likely to develop in the foreseeable future
which made it impossible to concede the Chinese claim to resume
jurisdiction.
We have the honour to be,
Gentlemen,
Your most obedient Servants,
(SGD) HARTLEY SHAWCROSS
(SGD) FRANK SOSKICE.
The Rt. Hon. Erbest Bevin, M.P., Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
The Rt. Hon. A. Creech Jones, M.P., Secretary of State for the Colonies.