CO129-563-1 Relations between His Majesty's government and Chinese government 12-6-1937 - 8-7-1937 — Page 12

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CONFIDENTIAL.

16

083/6006 (M.1.2.)

st

*

21 June, 1937.

| 2.

(1)

Sir,

I am commanded by the Army Council to acknowledge

the receipt of your letter No. F.3330/2595/10 dated 12th June, 1937, transmitting copies of two telegrams from His Majesty's Ambassador in China on the subject of certain proposals for Sino-British military co-operation.

2.

In reply I am to say that no such interchange of military intelligence as has been suggested is in force with any foreign Power and there is, in the Council's opinion, no sufficient military advantage to be gained by establishing a precedent in favour of the Chinese Government.

3.

The Council further considers that the political object which has prompted the present proposals could only be attained by the publication of any agreement which might be concluded between His Majesty's Government and the Chinese Government. Such an announcement, in the Council's opinion, could not fail to produce the most unfavourable reactions in the Japanese Army and, consequently, in the Japanese Government.

4.

In view of these considerations, the Council cannot agree to the proposal for an official interchange of military intelligence. For similar reasons, the proposal that a hine se officer should be officially stationed at Singapore cannot be entertained.

5.

I am further to say that, in the opinion of the Council, the mere existence of such proposals constitutes a potential danger to the establishment or friendly relations between Great Britain and Japan; it therefore seems desirable

The Under-Secretary of State,

Foreign Office,

3. .1.

that/