CO129-567-5 Traffic of arms to China and Japanese air-raids on Kowloon-Canton railway 11-4-1938 - 19-1-1939 — Page 71

uo difference. Japan deplored the attitude of France, and for the latter at such a time to send forces to occupy the Paracels was naturally displeasing to the Japanese people; it justified the suspicion that France was bent on action hostile to Japan.

7. The Asahi (8th July) expresses regret that France should have acted in such a way as to give rise to a suspicion that she was deliberately misunder- standing the intentions of Japan. An ill-considered act like the occupation of the Paracels was not the way to safeguard her territorial interests and it was preposterous for France to provoke Japan in the Far East when she already had her hands full in Europe. It was contrary to the spirit of the Franco-Japanese Agreement of 1907, which was based on the spirit of mutual reliance; it was regrettable that on many occasions since the Manchurian incident France had infringed the provisions of this agreement.

8. The Nichi Nichi (9th July) describes the French action as misdirected. France professed to be neutral in the conflict, but her actions gave rise to suspicions that she was in reality helping China. The policy of the authorities in French Indo-China was not always in accord with those of the Government in Paris, and it was not impossible that the occupation of the Paracel Islands had been carried out under orders from the French Overseas Secretary under the influence of the Comintern. But whoever may have been responsible it was (as one of the newspapers in Paris had pointed out) foolish of France to attempt to defend the China sea when she was already fully occupied with European problems.

9. The Hochi asserts that France alone would be responsible for any deterioration in Franco-Japanese relations that might result from her occupation of the Paracel Islands. Japan had been careful not to do anything which might involve her with third Powers; but unfortunately the latter had not appreciated her intentions, and France's action was to be regretted because of the encourage- ment it gave to the National Government. It was reported that China had protested to France against her occupation of the islands, but it was doubtful whether the National Government really intended to obtain any measure of satisfaction from her.

I have, &c.

R. L. CRAIGIE.