CO129-609-5 Future policy- Press accounts of Chinese unrest over Kowloon evictions 19-1-1948 - 16-3-1948 — Page 10

Information bepartaunt,

of the

British mbassy,

27 The isunt.,

Shanghai.

1st March, 1948.

ARVEY OF HANCHA FRE119 AND PUBLIC OPINION.

January 1948.

(Note: In certain matter... and especially in domestic affairs, the opinions expressed in local news, apers, all of which, except to some extent the Ta Kung Pao are under Goverment domination, are not at all representative of the views held by the public. Även the Ta Kung Pao shows its attitude frequently rather by what it does not say than by what it does say. For this reason, the survey attempts here and there to indicate points where general opinion is at variance with government inspired press comment. We have changed the title therefore, to that given above. It is hardly necessary to say that the views given are not those of enybody in this office).

Foreign Affairs.

10

Great Britain.

2.

Although this has been a bad month for us, the general Chinese attitude to the Labour Government and its domestic policy has continued to be very friendly. The Chinese Freas is always anxious to try sad discern some sign that Britain is maintaining a middle course between America and Russia. sarly in the mouth Mr. Atties's speech was taken by the Ta Kung Pao as a welcome sign thet a new liberal-socialist bloc is rising in Western surope. These hopes, however, received a blow by the later speech of ifr. Bevin which the Ta Fung Fao said in a leading article, "extinguishes any hope of a settlement between laat and fest". However th paper blamed for this Russia herself "who has refused to co- operate with Britain although Britain is under a socialist government and is carrying out an enlightened cialist policy".

Kowloon.

3.

Throughout the middle and end of the month not only was the press filled with news and articles about the incident at Kowloon City, hut public feeling also was gemuinely aroused. The Chinese thesis was, quite simply, that Kowloon City is under Chinese jurisdiction and that any action taken against the squatters was nothing leas thar an improvoked outrage against Chinese citizens on Chinese territory by a foreign power. In spite of this, the attitude of the leading news- papers was at first sufficiently sober and responsible. For instance the Shun Pao on the 15th January in a leading article urged that the Chinese people should allow reason to prevail over their feelings. The writer said, "The deterioration of the ! owloon affair does not necesse ily reflect the policy of the British government. We hope that Mr. Atties will realize that this business will only give opportunity to Moscow, for its propaganda campaign against Britain. Meanwhile, although popular indignation in China is praiseworthy in so far as it Com from a fouling or patriotima, yet we ought to support the government in not allowing the business to spread.

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