121.
near future become a most powerful instrument of propaganda
in China and the activities of Russia in this connection
cannot be disregarded. Whatever may be said of her general
destructive policy her aeroplane services are undoubtedly
constructive and efficient. She proposes to increase her
air services in Central Asia and to the Far East and expects
by this means to woo China successfully where other methods
have failed. China having very little available means of
transportation; the establishment of railways being expensive
aerial development would seem to be the easiest and cheapest
method of linking up the country so far as the Government is
concerned. I send you herewith cutting from the "Hong Kong
Daily Press" of two illuminating articles marked "B" and "C"
Not attached by Mr. Vaughan Fowler on General Cheng Wai Jung's non-stop
flight from Canton to Hankow.
I gather that most of the Aircraft factories in
England are fully employed at the moment and it seems that if anything useful is to be done regarding the introduction
of British machines into China the Home Government must take
the initiative in the matter. They have already recognised
the necessity of subsidising Home aircraft Companies until
such time as they are able to work alone and it is hoped that
the extension of this principle to China may be looked for.
Our future good relations with the Chinese depends largely
on our keeping in close contact with them and I can imagine
no more effective means of doing so than by means of the air.
At the moment our activities are confined to the fringe of
China but aircraft will enable us to get to the heart of the
country. The present is a most opportune time to strengthen
our relations with the Chinese and thus avoid a repetition
of our recent troubles with them and the huge expense of
sending out troops to protect our interests.
I
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