CO129-571-16 New Territories 13-4-1938 - 12-12-1938 — Page 126

No.

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONG KONG.

will grow rapidly in importance once this war is over,

perhaps at the expense of Shanghai: I do not pretend

to be an authority on the subject but it looks as though

the trade of Western China, south of the Yangtse, might

develop considerably when peace comes, in which case

the Hong Kong

<<

Hankow route must reap the benefit to a

Clark Kerr, to whom I am sending a

large extent.

copy of this letter, will no doubt correct these assertions

if they seriously erroneous.

I had not meant to make this letter so long;

but if Rogers is right, time is of essential importance:

if this letter helps to "tip the scale" in favour of

a loan to China it will have done its work. My opinion

on the point is of little value, but it is that it

would be worth £20,000,000 to the British Empire to

secure Hong Kong's future for a further hundred years,

if not for all time.

Rogers may be flying home by the plane which

takes this.

you sincerely (Art. kortheto