CO129-569-11 Visit of Governor of Hong Kong to Canton 11-4-1938 - 15-9-1938 — Page 34

(F 4732/4732/10).

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FOREIGN OFFICE,

S.W.1.

16th May, 1938.

34

Dear Cwell,

Orde has now left us to take up his post as

Minister at Riga, and in his absence I have been dealing

2 with your letter to him No.53770/38, of the 3rd May, on

the subject of a possible visit by the Governor of Hong

Kong to Canton.

In our view, if the Governor receives a suitable

invitation from the Canton Government he should pay an

official call, proceeding there in a gunboat rather than

by rail. Such a gesture would please and encourage the

Chinese and would help to increase British influence in

South China, where we must make every endeavour to recoup

ourselves for our losses in the North.

If such a visit were to eventuate, the Japanese

would be told that it was a routine courtesy visit and

they would be invited to take the same precautions for the Governor's safety as we expect for His Majesty's

H.R. Cowell, Esq.

Ambassador