CO537-3711 — Page 123

Note on the Correspondence following the

Chinese Notes of 26th November and

2nd December, 1936.

F 2482/221/10

of 1937.

F 2593/221/10

of 1937

F 2682/221/10

of 1937

On 28th April, 1937, H. M. Ambassador, Nanking, reported by telegram that he had written on 26th April, 1937, to the Chinese Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs informing him that eviction of occupants of the remaining four houses in Kowloon city had been authorised. He added that he was satisfied that compensation offered was adequate and that refusal to move was due to encouragement "by persons behind the scenes who had other reasons for their actiona". He also said that this situation could not be allowed to continue and that he agreed with the Hong Kong Government that it should be terminated without delay.

On 3rd May, 1937, H.M. Ambassador in Nanking, reported by te

elegram that he had received a reply from the Chinese Vice- Minister for Foreign Affairs. After exprcasing regret that the Hong Kong authorities should have lost sight of the juridical aspect of the question the reply continued as follows:-

I am inclined to think in dealing with autters of this kind it is alzuje „dvantageous to use a cartuin amount of tact and discretion and especially to take into con- sideration feeling of locul inhabitants so as to avoid any unpleasant situation that may otherwise arise. Quite aside from and without prejudice to the question of jurisdiction over Kowloon citizens I therefore request you to be so good as to advise Hong Kong authorities to defer full prosecution of their plan indefinitely and give more careful and thorough consideration to the matter in the light of views expressed by all parties concerned.

**

On 7th May, 1937, .. Ambassador, Kanking, reported by telegram that on 3rd May, 1937, in conversation with the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs he mentioned Kowloon and said that while he had communicated the substance of the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs' letter to the Foreign Office and Hong Kong, the scheme for Kowloon city must be carried out. He said that he thought it was most unlikely that the Hong Kong Government would agree to any further delay. Mis telegram continues as follows:-

I went over the ground on which Hong Kong based their right to abt. For thirty years no question had been raised as to our position; moreover, the Mur Office und Air Ministry had stated quite definitely that existence in Kowloon Oity of Chinese administration would be entirely incompatible with military needs and Governor held view thut pozsibility of external Japanese or communist demon- stration there could not be contemplated. I could only state our standpoint and suy I had no authority to discuss the question further. She matter did not seem worth a major dispute.

The Minister for Poreign ffairs liatened very quietly and expressed agreement with my last remark.

**

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