Strictly Confidential.
Interview with Mr. J. J. PATERSON, of Jardine,
Matheson & Co., Ltd, Hongkong.
75°
After Wing-Commander Malley had called on me, I had
a talk with Mr.J. J. Paterson, who informed me that his
Company had not actually cancelled the agreement made with
the Aeronautical Commission.
2.
The position was that John Keswick had rather hastily
concluded this agreement without full consideration of all
the difficulties, and without reference to him. Even if
Jardines could import the required goods into Hongkong, there
were, he thought, insuperable objections to their acting as
forwarding agents. It would be most undesirable both for
Hongkong and for Jardine, Matheson & Co. to have war materials
piling up in the Colony, the moving of which into China could
only be attended with great risks, whether by sea or by land.
He feared that any attempt on the part of Hongkong or Hongkong
merchants actively and greatly to assist China in obtaining
war materials would only mean that the Japanese would take
vigorous action to prevent it. It would be easy for them
to establish a contraband list and stop vessels before arrival
at Hongkong, or to dislocate the railway in Chinese territory
and interfere with river shipping.
3.
The agreement was not cancelled inasmuch as they
were willing to do all they possibly could to help, bearing the
above in mind.
(NOTE: Malley told me that Nanking considered that Jardines
had cancelled the agreement.)
4.
It was quite clear to me that, while Jardines want to
be as friendly as they can with the Chinese, they do not
want to do anything which would clearly meet the eye of the
Japanese and incur their wrath, They look ahead to the
possible outcome of this war, and do not want wrongly to be
tangled up.
5./
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