CO129-491 - Public Offices - 1925 — Page 100

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Communistic and other anti-British parties have spa 2 no

effort or expense in poisoning the minds of 11 classes in China against the British by the circulation of the basest

falsehoods, some of them so isprobable to an educated person

as to appear not worthy of consideration, but the ignoranA

masses in China who read the Topmacular press are not alls

distinguish the false from the true.

It appears to be most important to undertalco

counter-propaganda, or at least to stop or reduce the extent

of anti-British propaganda, and such work can only be carried

out by persons having such a familiarity with the Chinese

language and habits of thought as to be able to spread the

truth in the way most likely to be effective. Such persong

elbould get into touch with the editors and oth-rs connected

with the vernacular press, and do their best to secure the

publication of truthful statements as to British actions and

sympathies.

This kind of work could, it is thought, be

best undertaken by such an agent as has been suggested abov.

in conjunction with his other activities.

To sum up, I wish to impress upon His Majesty's

Government the fact that no settlement arrived at in Peking

can be successful in protecting British interests in Chine

unless it is acceptable in Canton also.

And I wish to suggest that the Government should

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