CO129-496 - Public Offices - 1926 — Page 228

℗ 2562/949/25.

sir.

224

POREIGN OFFICE,

B.F.1.

8th July, 1926.

With reference to your letter No. 12210/1926 of

June 23rd last, enclosing a despatch from the Governor

of Hongkong on the subject of Japanese policy in China.

I am directed by Secretary Sir Austen Chamberlain to state,

for the information of Mr. Becretary Amery, that he sonours

in the proposal that Tokyo despatch No. 33 of January 26th

last, should be went to Sir C. Clementi. Copies are

enclosed accordingly.

2. Sir Austen Chamberlain concure generally in Sir

C. Eliot's appreciation of the present position. On the

other hand, he finds himself unable to accept certain of

the conclusions drawn by Sir C. Clementi. He does not

consider, for example, that Japan has pursued a policy of

fomenting civil war in China, only since the Anglo-Japanese

alliance has been terminated. This policy in fact was

more marked before the end of the alliance, when, for

instance, the Japanese encouraged the movement against

Yuan Shi-kai in 1915 and 1916.

It seems very doubtful,

Moreover, whether Japan would willingly foster a movement

having any commnist tendency. Both for domestic reasons

of her own, and because it implies an increase in Russian

Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office.

influence