CO129-580-2 Sino-Japanese War- British policy and reactions in Hong Kong and Malaya 27-7-1939 - 3-2-1940 — Page 70

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fullest co-operation and allegiance of the Chinese in Malaya,

and it is safe to say that, at the present time, if we went

to war with Japan we should et full support from them.

But they are a queer people, easily swayed; and the

Communist societies among them, such as the Anti-nemy Backing-

up Society and the Vanguard Corps, can do a lot of harm, if

they get the chance, by stirring up mistrust of Great Britain.

The news that we get from London is necessarily very

much summarised and therefore liable to be misunderstood,

especially as it arrives so often at the same time as the

accounts that come from foreign sources in much more full and

plausible detail. It would be of real help to us if I could

receive in advance of publication the gist of any announcement

which His Majesty'a Government may decide to make in regard to

Japan with a sufficiently full explanation.

We should then

Sudden

have time to consider it and its probable effect locally, and

to take such steps as seemed necessary. For example, Rugby

has just sent out the statement regarding the handing over of

the four Chinese accused of murder in Tientsin.

shocks of this kind are liable to cause trouble. I am away

from Singapore, but I am glad to say that there has been no

local agitation in this case, and I consider that the arrival

of reinforcements and the attitude of the Press (the "Straits

Times" had an admirable leading article headed "Justice and

Politics") has done much to keep people quiet.

It would also help greatly if I could be told from

time to time of the possible trend of the negotiations, or the

reasons why His Majesty's Government is taking a certain line.

I should then have the chance of considering whether it would

be possible discreetly to prepare the public so that when any

announcement is made, the chances of misunderstanding may be

reduced.

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