CO129-580-2 Sino-Japanese War- British policy and reactions in Hong Kong and Malaya 27-7-1939 - 3-2-1940 — Page 69

COPY

避

REF: H. SEC: 28/1939.

Copy to:

Governor Hong Kong,

Governor.

Straits Settlements.

ORIGINAL ON 53838/45/39.

THE LODGE,

27

69

FRASER'S HILL.

17th August, 1939.

My dear Mr. MacDonald,

Thank you for your secret and personal telegram

of the 9th of August. It was only with many misgivings

that I sent my teleɛram No.45 and I am grateful to you for

your reception of it.

I am glad to say that Chinese opinion in Malaya

has now resumed its normal calmness, though the Tokyo

discussions are being carefully watched. The recent

statements by the Prime Minister, the Secretary of State for

Foreign Affairs, and others in Parliament have done much

to reassure them, and of course the arrival of reinforcements

here has cheered them immensely. These are regarded as a

welcome and stern warning. The local Press is taking the

text that these reinforcements mean not only that Great

Britain has the will, but also the ability to protect her

interests in the Far East. Indeed, our Press is generally

quite helpful.

I send you a copy of my statement in the

Legislative Council on 31st July, in case you may like to

have it. In my last paragraph I intended to hint that, if

our Chinese did not behave themselves, they could not expect

us to continue our benevolence towards their war Relief Fund

which now amounts to some $40 million (say, £2 a head for

every Chinese man, woman and child in Malaya). I received

a letter of thanks from the Chairman, assuring me of the

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

MALCOLM MACDONALD, M.P.

fullest