CO129-492 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1925 [12] - 1926 [1-5] — Page 122

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Manchuria caused a great deal of comment.

For these reasons I abide by the opinio

to the effect

expressed in my telegram No. 39

--

that while attempts to reach a settlement locally should be continued if the rise to power of a moder-

bauter

ate party in held out any prospect of success, we should await development of the growing dislike of the Bolsheviks, and formation of an alliance of friendly militarists. In all probability the latter would take action against Canton as soon as they considered their strength sufficient.

Should you have occasion to justify before Pa liament this policy of apparent inaction, I would suggest as an explanation that the policy of the British Government has been governed by principles of reasonableness towards the Chinese people and sympathy with their legitimate aspirations. This accords with your speech of September 18th and your instructions to British Delegation to the Tariff Conference. Much good has already resulted from this policy of patient conciliation, insomuch as friendship and goodwill between the British and Chinese peoples have beon very largely restored, and normal commercial relati、 have been resumed in all but a few areas in China. These areas, notable among which is the province of Kuangtung, are subject to external influences violently and openly hostile to Great Britain.

You will doubtless take into con- sidération desirability of intimating whether patience in dealing with these unreasonable and

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irreconcilable