CO129-580-1 Sino-Japanese War- handing over of suspected terrorists to Japanese authorities 1-5-1939 - 24-8-1939 — Page 25

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about to proceed to Kunming with a view to joining a

school there, we found that numerous reports had

appeared in the newspapers stating that owing to demands

having been made by the enemy, the British (Home)

Government had conceded and had instructed the British

Municipal Authorities at Tientsin to allow to be

"extradited" to the enemy the four Chinese brethren who

were suspected and detained in Tientsin.

We were

astounded by the news, for we two were the men who killed

Ching, and the suspects the four Chinese brethren

were in no way connected with the affair.

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The enemy, however, has used her own discretion

falsely and manufactured false proof accusing the four Chinese

brethren of being the men who killed Ching. Upon

pressure being put by the enemy, the British Government

is contemplating to follow blindly on a course leading

to their "extradition". If these four Chinese brethren

should in fact be handed over to the enemy, indeed

according to conscience, morality, law and righteousness

we, the men who through being animated by patriotism

actually fired the shots which put Ching to death,

cannot remain silent doing nothing and allowing the four

brethren to suffer a grievous wrong to the end.

We claim that we are dutiful sons of the

Chinese Race. A brave man should bear the consequences

of what he has done. We have decided to disclose our

identity and bravely to give up ourselves to justice,

and also to expose the truth in connection with the

Ching case so as to dispel the suspicion that (has been lingering in the minds of) all parties like an itchy spot on the foot which they have been scratching with the

boot in between (= labour in vain).

After making up our mind we sent a cable to Chairman Lam of the National Government on the afternoon