CO537-3705 — Page 44

Code

POLITICAL DISTRIBUTION

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FROM KANKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Sir R. Stevenson.

No. 112

D. 10.46 a.m. 2nd February,1948,

2nd February, 1948. R. 11.16 a.m. 2nd February, 1948. Repeated to Hong Kong.

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 112

of February 2nd repeated to Hong Kong.

My telegram No. 92; Kowloon Incident.

In discussing your note to the Chinese Aubassador January 24th with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I and member of my staff made a point of emphasising the importance which we attached to the British point of view, as represented in this note, being placed squarely before the Chinese public. Generally Ministry responded well to these promptings.

(96) ()

2. Note was published in toto in the English service of Central News Agency but with some important omissions, result of which was to weaken our case, in the Chinese version. It was well covered by the Nanking and Shanghai Dress generally. Up to the present the note has evoked only one editorial. This appeared in Shanghai "Ho Tgng Jih" and took the line that since British note admitted that jurisdiction issue was a matter for discussion then it followed there from that "aggression against Chinese jurisdiction was clearly unjustified". Editorial concluded by stating "Chinaman was Britain's friend and that instead of meandering about on paper she should come to an early and reasonable solution of the matter with the Chinese Government",

3.

Publicity was also given to a counter blast by Director of Information Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, text of which is contained in my immediately following telegram.

4. Apart from the foregoing there has been a refreshing, absence of controversial comment in the press generally during the last few days.

EEE

PRS