CO129-570-3 Sino-Japanese War- proposed refugee camp in demilitarised area of South China 1-6-1938 - 11-1-1939 — Page 89

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NO DISTRIBUTION

Telegram (en clair) from Mr. Blunt (Canton).

D. 14th June, 1938.

R. 27th June, 1938.

No. 3. (Saving).

21

Addressed to British Embassy, Shanghai, Savingram No.6

of June 14th, 1938.

Hongkong telegram No. 167 to Secretary of State for

Colonies.

Last named argued that while he

Actual and clearly threatened influx of Cantonese refugees

into Hongkong was subject of three cornered correspondence between Governor of Hongkong, my self and Provincial Chairman

as long ao as December last.

was seeking and would seek to direct flood of refugees inland

in the event of Japanese invasion, very many Cantonese had property, relations, friends at Hongkong and that to prevent their entry would cause great ill feeling.

2. If I may venture an opinion, Governor of Hongkong has throughout dealt with this difficult problem with sympathy and understanding.

3. The crisis passed and has only now re-arisen, but aggravated by influx of refugees from Fukien, Hankow, Chungking. The se refugees and those from Shanghai and North China have no historic claim on hospitality of Hongkong.

4. Even before receipt of Hongkong telegram No. 150 to Secretary of State for Colonies, I had approached Frovincial and Municipal Authorities directly and indirectly about seeking to create a safe zone from bombing. Criticisms by Chinese included no faith in Japanese promises, experience of Nanking, and finally and fatally refusal to admit, by exclusion of one particular zone, Japanese right to bomb rest of Canton. Provincial Chairman

informed....