CO129-580-2 Sino-Japanese War- British policy and reactions in Hong Kong and Malaya 27-7-1939 - 3-2-1940 — Page 81

81

4.

complications; but His Excellency did not appear to

exclude solution of outstanding difficulties and early improvement in Anglo-Japanese relations as an alternative method

of achieving the same end.

R. Begins.

Finally His Excellency stated that he had heard from

ir. Arita of our efforts to reach an understanding and

desired to assure me that, if His Majesty's Government wished to proceed along the same path, they could be sure that Japanese Government would be prepared to meet them

more than half way.

In taking my leave I said that I felt sure that Your Lordship would be glad to learn of our conversation and that he could rely on me to resume discussions of outstanding

difficulties at the first available moment. R. Ends.

Addressed to Foreign Office No. 118 of September 8th.

Repeated to Shanghai No. 955, Hongkong | No. 167

(Shanghai please pass to Hongkong).