CO129-557-2 British Empire and China Trade Fair 4-3-1936 - 24-6-1936 — Page 25

NO.304. AIR MAIL.

RES

* MAY 1936

t

25

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONG KONG.

13th May, 1936.

53613

Enclo.No.1.

35

Sir,

With reference to Sir Thomas Southorn's despatch

No.471 of the 14th August, 1935, on the subject of the

proposed British Empire and China Trade Fair, I have the

honour to enclose a copy of a telegram received by me from

Sir Malcolm Robertson and others on the 31st March, 1936 and

Enclo.No.2. of the reply which, after consultation with my Executive

Copy & Menell. to Fir E. Brome

(DFT)

Council and the Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council, I sent to him on the 8th May, 1936. The delay in answering was due to the feeling prevalent in local mercantile circles

towards the Fair, which has been described in the second

paragraph of Sir Thomas Southorn's despatch as one of apathy but to which I would apply the stronger term of antipathy. Some of the grounds for this attitude may possibly be found

in the open letter to Beatrice Thompson published by the China United Press in the February number of "The People's Tribune" (Shanghai), of which I enclose a typescript copy. My advisers in assenting, unanimously, to the reply which has been sent to

Sir Malcolm Robertson were governed solely by the consideration that the reasons advanced for a postponement were incontrovertible and that, in view of the influential names which Mrs. Thompson has enlisted in England and in Kwangtung, it would be impolitic for the Hong Kong Government to make itself appear responsible

Enclo.No.3.

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

J.H. THOMAS, M.P.

&C.,

&C.,

&C.