CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922 — Page 773

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:

unite all of them even those who do not approve of the

By stem

against the British Government. They will tend

more and more to associate themselves with China rather than

with England: (the tendency exists already) and it is by no

means impossible that we shall find ourselves up against a

passive resistance to all Government measures and a boycott,

more or less open, of British trade.

We hold our position in Hong Kong because the

Chinese are satisfied to be ruled by us so long as we do not

make out yoke heavy and are willing to listen to their views

and meet their wishes in matters which affect them nearly.

They do not like us but are passively loyal. If we inter-

fere with their customs to an extent which they believe to

be unreasonable, this passive acquiescence will be turned

into a more or less active opposition. We can rely on

nobody except the half-cestes and even they will throw in

their lot with the Chinese if they think they will be the

winning side.

Yours sincerely

(Sd) R.E.Stubbs