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I do not think that any comments are required from the Colonial Office angle on the Prime Minister's Memorandum (C.P.(49)119 jaron nemo ( EP. (49) 118). (108)
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I imagine that a good deal of the discussion will/ the probable reactions, in Commonwealth countries and in the United States, to the United Kingdom decision to defend Hong Kong against possible aggression by Chinese Communists. Since the attitude of India is regarded as so crucial, I understand that Sir Archibald Nye, the United Kingdom High Commissioner at Delhi, has been asked to attend.
I attended yesterday a meeting,at which he also was present, at which the possibility of establishing an anti-communist front in South-East Asia was discussed, and he then gave a full account of Pandit Nehru's probable reactions to an approach from us on that subject. As we knew, of course, one of the crucial points in Pandit Nehru's policy is his attitude towards "Colonialism". Sir Archibald Nye emphasised the strength of Pandit Nehru's feeling that the presence of European' Colonial powers in Asia is an affront to the peoples of Asia. So far as Malaya is concerned, Sir A. Nye thought that Pandit Nehru was sympathetic and might well be brought to recognise that the United Kingdom still has a vital role to play in Malaya and that it would be a mis take for us to relinquish our responsibilities there until the people of Malaya are in a position to assunie the responsibilities of self-government.
Sir A. Nye was however more doubtful about Pandit Nehru's attitude towards our position in Hong Kong, and especially to our decision to defend Hong Kong against a Chinese attack. He felt that we could not possibly expect any moral support from Pandit Nehru in such a decision and that the most that we could possibly hope would be that he might be persuaded not to come out openly against us on this issue. Even this will probably be very hard to achieve, though General Nye did not rule it out as an impossibility.
77.9.
25 May 49.
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