CO129-580-2 Sino-Japanese War- British policy and reactions in Hong Kong and Malaya 27-7-1939 - 3-2-1940 — Page 75

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ORIGINAL ON S53838,

53838/48/39.

53838/50/84

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26

Governinent House,

Hong Kong.

14th August, 1939.

My dear Gent,

The B.B.C.'s announcement last Friday night about

the rendition of the four Tientsin men, followed by Press

messages, took this place very much by surprise and has created

a lamentable pessimism, not to say discontent with the attitude

of the British Government. If I could have had a little warning

of what was coming I think that I could have done something

towards preparing Chinese opinion for the news, and so have

obtained for it a more understanding reception. Do you think

that you might suggest to the Foreign Office that /course might

be followed in future when announcements are about to be made

which are likely to give Chinese opinion an unpleasant shock,

Yours very sincerely,

'Sgd) G.A.S.Northcote.

that

G.E.J.Gent, Esq., 0.B.E., D.S.0., M.C.