CO129-558-11 Mission of Sir F. Leith-Ross to China- proposals for a Hong Kong - China customs... 29-9-1936 - 30-12-1936 — Page 112

into statements on foreign affairs a few well-chosen

sentences emphasising His Majesty's Government's

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sympathy with the rehabilitation of China and our desire

to maintain and develop our trade there it would greatly

encourage our traders and help to maintain our influence

with the Chinese Government.

But, of course,

in the end our continued

interest in China can be proved only by the adoption of

an active policy on the part of His Majesty's Government 9

e.g. in pursuing diplomatic representations to the

Japanese Government and in working out appropriate

financial assistance to China.

(2) Policy towards Japan.

It is very difficult to formulate any very

definite recommendations in regard to Japan. The

Japanese military undoubtedly aim at the domination of

China, or at least of North China, through a subservient

Chinese administration and they will do all they can to

weaken the Nanking Government so long as it opposes this

policy. There are many shades of difference in Japan as

regards the extent to which, and the pace at which,

this policy should be pursued, but in the absence of

joint military pressure by the Great Powers, or inter-

vention by the U.S.S.R. alone, no Government in Japan

is likely to renounce it entirely and the main check on its pursuit will probably be the degree of resistance

met with from the Chinese. On the other hand, we could

use our influence with the Japanese Government to urge upon

At the them a more reasonable policy towards China. present time, both the Japanese Government and the Japanese military authorities are definitely anxious to maintain

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