CO129-593-1 Future policy- unofficial views 18-6-1946 - 28-12-1946 — Page 34

- 5

34

once and for all that the Colony is untenable in any major con-

flict with a power which controls China. The small garrison

which will remain there is designed only for police duties and

to serve as a small strategic reserve for possible action else-

where in the Pacific. Hong Kong's contribution can, therefore

only be in the spheres of diplomacy and of moral and educational

influence.

would

it ?

X

Diplomatically, Britain has had no real policy

}

in China since the surrender of Japan. This has, no doubt, been

due to bewilderment and her complex problems and to preoccupations

elsewhere, But so far this lack of policy has had certain advant-

ages. The Americans, by the expenditure of vast sums of money

and by the sacrifice of immense quantities of equipment, has kept

in power the most corrupt and reactionary elements of the Kuo-

mintang.

She has thus earned the fundamental hostility of the

Communists and the suspicion of all progressive elements in

China. The United States is thus faced with the embarassing

choice of continuing to support, virtually by force of arms,

a gan of unstable and inefficient reactionaries or of withdrawing

that suppert with the probable result that a new government,

hostile to America with replace the present Kuomintang clique

Britain, on the other hand, by a policy of

inaction remains uncommitted to any "hinese faction. he still

retains great trading interests in China. These may not endear

her to the Communists but her reputation for sound commercial practice and her initiative in surrendering the Treaty Ports

before the War has enabled her to retain considerable prestige. This prestige would be enormously strengthened in China, as in

Europe, if she were to adopt a constructive independent policy.

Nothing is more odious to the Chinese or to any asiatic than

the thought of becoming the pawns of America or of Russia. Yet

all intelligent Asiatics agree that they need technical and

educational assistance from the West. Britain is in a position

to give such assistance and the very weakness of her position

in the Far East is a guarantee that it could be accepted by

China without any sacrifice of her political independence.

-