CO129-580-1 Sino-Japanese War- handing over of suspected terrorists to Japanese authorities 1-5-1939 - 24-8-1939 — Page 166

る。

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that is a thing with which I for myself cannot at present

reconcile with my conscience and I would beg to be excused from the duty of giving the Consul-General the authority for which he asks. At the same time it would be a thing which I should find

it difficult if not impossible to explain to Chinese who are well

aware of what is going on and are watching in full confidence

that we shall see to it that justice is done.

If I were convinced that these four men had brought them-

selves within ruling contained in your telegram No. 4 (as soon as reasonably evident that their activities are directed towards terrorist acts such as assassination, etc.) I should have nothing more to say, but in the light of evidence which has reached me so far I am not and, for this reason, I should not like to be a

party to any decision to hand them over.

All this compels me to beg that my suggestion regarding internment at Hongkong should receive early and sympathetic

reconsideration. Then I was there recently I discussed matter

with Governor and he said that he could deal without difficulty

with a few more internees.

I confess that I do not understand whence criticism is expected to come except from Chinese and I can guarantee that there would be no criticism from them and that they would at no time question legal power of colonial authorities to detain hinese citizens deported from China against whom there is no valid charge. Far from it! I am sure that Chinese would welcome a solution of problem on this basis. I would make it clear to them that any cases arising in the future would be dealt with much more drastically and that they must warn their people accordingly. This combined with solemn warning issued by Consul- General should be deterrent enough. If it is not, then the blame will lie entirely with the Chinese.

Addressed to Foreign Office No. 45 Tour, May 17th.

Repeated Embassy Shanghai No. 81 Tour, Tientsin No. 11 Tour (Shanghai please pass to Tokyo as my telegram No. 7 Tour)