CO129-564-11 Road communications with Canton. Includes 1 photograph depicting- Bridge over Shum Chun River- China. Dated... 20-8-1937 - 18-1-1938 — Page 6

6

See para. 4 of

enc. to (1).

in Anquil when China's "hour of

need

vhj

not

so apparent.

my

V

think, little need for the exhortation in paragraph 2

of this letter.

We have already noted the Nanking telegrams,

copies of which are enclosed, and it is, I think, the

very real difficulties caused in Hong Kong by the

present disturbances, rather than any interference

on the part of the British authorities, which have

led the Colonial Government to adopt what may appear

at first sight a somewhat obstructive policy. I

suggest, however, that the 0.A.G.'s telegrams and

the descability o despatches show that he is clearly aware of maintaining Chinese goodwill. It is not clear precisely what

language was used by the O.A.G. in "repudiating any idea of a possible alliance against a common foe",

but I do not see that this necessarily meant that in the actual audience with Colonel Li Fong the proposals

were rejected in anything but "friendly and moderate

terms".

With regard to the immediate question of

completing road communication between the Colony and

Hong Kong, I am inclined to agree with the Foreign

Office view that it would be desirable from the point

of view of wider British interests in China, and

therefore ultimately of the Colony itself, to complete

the road as quickly as possibly. Unless, therefore,

the reply to our telegram at (7) is most unsatisfactory,

I suggest that we should approve the completion of the road as quickly as possible. A reply to (8)

might wait for the reply to our telegram.

?

Wait accordingly.

P. Rogers

30. X.37.