CO129-492 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1925 [12] - 1926 [1-5] — Page 466

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Sir,

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONGKONG.

12th May,1925.

448

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On returning to Hong Kong after an absence of twelve years I have been much struck by the altered attitude of Japan towards China and Great Britain, conse- quent on the termination of the Anglo-Japanese alliance. While thatalliance was in existence the policy of Japan, like our own, appeared to aim at maintaining the integrity and unity of China and at keeping the door of Chinese trade open to all nations. Now, so it seems to me, the policy of Japan is to foment civil war in China, to destroy all cohesion between the eighteen Provinces, to prevent the unification of China, and to undermine the trade and influence of white races, especially our own in the Far East. Of course, such a policy is not, and could not be, openly avowed: but it appears to be a reasonable inference from known facts.

2.

After all, what are likely to be the views

of a patriotic Japanese statesmen intent upon obtaining for his nation a secure and dominant position along the west coast of the Pacific Ocean? Geographical considerations would show him that the principal rivals of Japan in the

Far East

RIGHT HONOURABLE

LIEUTENANT COLONEL L.C.M.S. AMERY, M.P.,

3LC -

&C..

800.