CO129-580-1 Sino-Japanese War- handing over of suspected terrorists to Japanese authorities 1-5-1939 - 24-8-1939 — Page 170

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2.

tracing the assassin and there is bound to be breach in local relations unless the Japanese wishes are met. I have to add that one of the men is also alleged to have confessed to the murder of a Japanese soldier; that the revolver used in Cheng's assassination was supplied by Cantonese under a Chinese Government Huchao; and that the Japanese allege that the bullets which caused the death of three of their sentries are identical with the bullets which

killed Cheng.

4. The rest of the Committee's telegram bears out the feeling held by all locally, that unless the present policy of His Majesty's Government that the persons committing uncontrolled acts in our concession be interned is not altered immediately British trade and British Concessions will be placed in jeopardy.

As I and the Committee have said, internment is no deterrent to use the concession as a base for political and terrorist activities. In fact the Japanese believe that we are deliberately assisting the Chinese by our attitude. Local community and I feel that the Japanese have considerable justification for this belief; having the strong conviction that they are being unfairly treated, Japanese will, I am convinced, take some positive action unless our policy

is altered.

Addressed to Foreign Office No. 180, repeated to Shanghai

telegram No. 238, for His Majesty's Ambassador [telegram No.19?],

Tokyo telegrain No. 103. Peking telegram No. 113 [Shanghai repeat

to Tokyo].

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