CO129-580-2 Sino-Japanese War- British policy and reactions in Hong Kong and Malaya 27-7-1939 - 3-2-1940 — Page 91

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Mr. Duff-Cooper, Sir Archibald Sinclair, Mr. Authur Green- wood and Lord Lytton. The newspaper telegrams stated that if the outcome of the Tokyo talks proved to be unfavourable to China, 400,000,000 Chinese would be indescribably disappointed, that, under the pressure of Japanese aggression in the Far East, China had been fighting not only for her own national existence but also for the peace and justice of the whole world, and that Britain's help to China had been greatly appreciated by every Chinese. He

concluded: -

"We sincerely hope that before any formal

decision is adopted after the Tokyo talks, Britici. statesmen will take Chinese aspirations into earnest consideration."

The telegram to individual parliamentarians was as

follows:-

"On behalf of 8,000,000 overseas Chinese we strongly

oppose any compromise in the British attitude towards Japan. In our opinion any compromise would be extremely prejudicial to British prestige and interests in the Far East."

On the same day Mr. Lee Kong Chin (son-in-law of Mr. Tan Kah Kee) and Mr. Lim Boon Thin, president and vice- president respectively of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce, sent, over their own names and without consulting the Chamber, the following telegram to Viscount

Cecil:-

"Chinese sentiment here against compromise with

Japan. Our opinion any compromise will prejudice British prestige and interests in the Far East. Appreciate your valuable support."

On Monday, the 24th July, a notice was issued by the

Singapore Chinese Relief Fund Committee, of which Mr. Tar Kah Kee is the chairman, calling upon local Chinese public bodies to send representatives to a meeting to be held at the Chinese Chamber of Commerce at 3 p m. on the following day.

It is worthy of notice that at this period of uncertainty