CO129-571-1 Sino-Japanese War- shipping 10-1-1938 - 24-12-1938 — Page 155

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and that the difficulties which have subsequently had to

be met have been the same fear and ignorance, with the

additions of suspicion, defencelessness, tactless petitions

by local Chinese mercantile interests, and - an important

trouble criticism and ill-advised publicity in the British

press of Hong Kong. I am told (am credit) a certain recent

unfriendliness (due to quite unjustified disappointment

regarding military supplies) in high military circles, but

it certainly has not existed in General Wu Te-chen, the

Provincial Chairman, whom I have seen private and frequently

in the matter, and who has assisted in every way within

his power. Every high civil official throughout has

wished to re-open the river and supported me. But the

military attitude towards them has no doubt been that of

General Yu Han-now and his Chief of Staff to me personally.

The following epitomises 1 hours conversation with General

Mu Han-mou:- "There is no ill will; I fully recognise the

loss to trade and to China's revenue, and the inconvenience;

the merchant in my experience however can always find means

of moving his goods if he sufficiently wishes; there is a

railway to Hong Kong and a road (sic); I am responsible

for the defence of Canton and South China, and, first and

last, that is the one thing for which I must make provision

to the best of my powers; the civil officials may not agree

with me but they do not share the responsibility".

Air raids on Canton started on August 31st.

till that date business here was normal, and navigation

Up

and shipping as usual, except that from August 24th vessels

were instructed to dim their lights at night. On September

4th this Consulate General was warned by the Special

Delegate for Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Military

authorities,