!
- 3 -
90
collapse.
Additional charges may be the last straw.
Our first duty is surely to protect their interests
seeing that we are only in China for trade.
(5) Japan at least is most unlikely to agree to
such a surrender; even Washington surtaxes have not yet
received her imprimatur.
(6) Finally may I put in a special plea agairst
resort to the form of bluff towards end of paragraph
numbered 2 of your telegram? It would almost certainly
be called and we should merely look foolish. Also
would it be fair to cur traders to say we will support
them knowing in our hearts that we do not in the last
resort mean to do 90?
I am convinced that if we did mean business it
would be best to guarantee against having to take strong- measures but I am equally convinced mere bluff with nothing behind it is false policy especially with an
oriental race.
(7) one further point; I fear His Majesty's Government misread position if they look for anything in
nature of a conference on tariff matters at Shanghai.
The day for such things is over. Chinese now take what
they want unless prevented from doing so; they do not stop to debate point.
To sum up I would strongly advise that we go slowly as regards general question until we know attitude of other Powers and especially Japan. If Japan is not ready for strong action I can quite see that there are arguments against cur taking it alone though I should
prefer.....
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