CO129-580-1 Sino-Japanese War- handing over of suspected terrorists to Japanese authorities 1-5-1939 - 24-8-1939 — Page 159

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2.

Absence of

5. Guiding principle should presumably be the maintenance of a British authority in the Concession and a resistance alike to Chinese and Japanese efforts to distract to their advantage. authority for His Majesty's Consul General to deal resolutely and effectively with evil of terrorism increases the difficulty of resisting the growing Japanese tendency to interfere in affairs and in itself constitutes a danger.

I feel that the above consideration should in the present circumstances prevail over our feelings of consideration for the Chinese Government and of sympathy with the individuals concerned and I earnestly hope that His Majesty's Consul General may be given full authority for which he asks.

I have discussed the matter with Military Attaché who concurs

with the above.

Addressed to Foreign Office; repeated to Shanghai No. 328 (pass to Tientsin telegram No. 33).