CO537-3705 — Page 132

COPY OF DRAFT LETTER

TO:

J.

२

ISON, ESQ., M.P.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

This and attached Note

agreed with F.O.

For Mr. Rees-Williams' signature

(Note)

In reply to your note of the 21st January

I send you as promised a note prepared in the

Department on the background of the recent

Kowloon incident. Accounts of this were grossly

distorted and exaggerated in a section of the

Chinese press and this appears to have contributed

to the anti-British outbursts at Canton and

elsewhere.

As regards the China angle of the matter

(as apart from the Hong Kong angle) Mayhew is in

a better position than I to give you information.

I am therefore sending a copy of your letter and

of this reply and the attached Note to him and

asking him to let you have a further note direct.

Yours sincerely,