CO537-2187 — Page 170

2.

When an article like this is published in 'The Times' it does a lot of harm and increases the sense of insecurity here. For that reason I hope it will not be long before the British Government finds an opportunity to make the desired statement.

When the statement does come it should be quite unequivocal and without qualification. There is no use saying, for instance, that there is no question of the Colony being handed over 'at present' or 'as long as China is in a state of unrest' • or any other similar qualification. Any statement of that sort will only make the situation more uncertain".

4.

1

Page 170Page 171