"11
although during my stay in China, I studied the situation
as well as I could, these suggestions are based on personal
impressions derived from the data at my disposal and they
must be correlated with information available from other
Sources.
(1) Publicity.
First and foremost, if we desire to maintain
our interests in the Far East, every suitable opportunity
should be taken to emphasize that this is our policy.
At present British prestige in China stands high; but
there is a widespread feeling, both in Chinese and in
British circles, that in the stress of European preoccupa-
tions, His Majesty's Government take little interest in
China or in our trade with China; and that our policy is
to abandon our position or at least not to make any elfort
to maintain it. This impression affects the Chinese
attitude to British proposals and discourages our merchants
from initiating new ventures. It can to some extent
be counteracted by arranging more publicity both in China
and here. Occasional articles in the Press reviewing
the situation in China, such as those written by the Secretary of the China Association and published in the Times last year are useful. The publication of an annual report from the Ambassador summarising develop- ments in China, and commenting upon them from the point of view of British interests and policy, would be of greater value. Still more important are Ministerial
statements. These are cabled fully to China,
eagerly s tudied and commented on at length in the local Press. If Ministers would from time to time introduce
are
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