CO129-414 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [10-11] — Page 13

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Hon. Col. Sec.

1. Opinions re War in Europe and Shantung.

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Hongkong sympathies broadly speaking are on the

side of the Allies; although as far as Shantung is

concerned the inclusion of the Japanese is very

unpopular. They seem to be confident of the final

issue of the war, though their minds are open enough

to be obviously affected by current events, and 0.g.-

the fall of Antwerp has caused a little wavering: as

was to be expected.

Canton sympathies are undoubtedly pro-German in the

main; German agents have been very busy there since

the beginning of the war. Their opinions are naturally

coloured by their sympathies, but there still does

not seen to be any very strong belief in the ultimate

victory of Germany, for the Cantonese are shrewd enough

to follow the news for themselves. They are however

ready to welcome German success.

At the The Shantung question is a complicated one.

beginning sympathy was with the Germans without any

prompting from the agents; the idea being that if

Germany won the German Government would have such a

lot to do in Europe that there would be no time to

go meddling with things in China; and China would

thus be free from all interference for a time at

least. But the violent antipathy to the Japanese has

altered that; under any circumstances Japan's power

cannot be broken for a very long time even if

So it will be better Germany should win in Europe.

if Great Britain cm still be there to watch Japan.