CO129-571-13 Sino-Japanese War- internment of Chinese soldiers 5-12-1938 - 11-1-1939 — Page 15

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men should continue to be accommodated

either in Hong Kong or elsewhere in

neutral territory for the duration of the

hostilities in China; although in the

absence of a formal declaration of war

between China and Japan the Hong Kong

Government may not be strictly under any

obligation to keep them interned.

3.

Mr. MacDonald would be obliged

if Lord Halifax would favour him with his

observations as to the manner in which

these men should be dealt with, and whether

he considers that it would be inadvisable,

both on grounds of policy and humanity, to

proceed as the Governor desires. In the

event of Lord Halifax sharing the view

expressed in the preceding paragraph,

Whether

Mr. MacDonald would be glad to learn it

is considered necessary that the men should

be detained under guard in an internment

camp at the expense, presumably, of the

Government of Hong Kong or whether it

would be permissible for them to be

treated