FO371-23515 — Page 53

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4.

195

(b) The majority of responsible Japanese recognise that

trade between Japan and Canton should pass through Hong Kong owing to harbour, financial, and labour facilities. This was difficult, however, unless stronger measures were taken for controlling anti- Japanese activities in the Colony. Fortunately these had been very successful already and there had been no loss of life amongst the Japanese community, as had occurred some years ago. At the same time there were subversive elements amongst the labouring classes which might be eliminated or controlled by the exercise of additional firmness. The standards applied to British labour could not be applied to Chinese labour, and he thought that this fact was not perhaps sufficiently recognised.

(c)

Mr. Nakamura had nothing but praise for the courtesy and help rendered to him by the Governor, and Naval Commander-in-Chief, the retiring and new General Officers Commanding, the secretary of Chinese Affairs, the Chief of Police, and other officials. He regretted leaving the Colony, but after 9 years abroad in America and South China he had applied for a home appointment "as operations in the South were over". (There was no doubting the sincerity of Mr. Nakamura's references to Sir Geoffry Northcote, Admiral Noble, Generals Bartholomew and Orasett, Mr. North and Mr. King).

(a) Mr. Nakamura then spoke in a friendly way of his

meetings with Sir Archibald Kerr, with whose views he sympathized to some extent. At the same time he felt he ought to say that all Sir Archibald's conversations with Chiang Kai-shek and the Chinese Government were reported to the Japanese Government, as there was no secrecy in Chinese official circles; and the Ambassador's remarks to Chiang Kai-shok reached Japan in such a highly coloured and exaggerated form that he appeared to be not only very pro-Chinese but violently anti-Japanese. Por this reason he was unpopular in Japan. Mr. Hakamla emphasized that he was not criticising the Ambassador, but only drawing attention to the dangers of putting any confidence in Chinese officials.

(*)

(f)

As regards Jardine Matheson's "Hai" ships; the British Government were legally in the right in demanding their release, but whether it was wise politically was another question.

As regards trade on the Pearl River, he said, speak- ing metaphorically:"ice will melt, and trade be resumed there before very long; there is a more balmy atmosphere in the South then in the North".

Mr. Nakamura is writing to his successor, Mr.Tajiri,

to introduce the Assistant Military Attaché who is due in

Hong Kong at the end of the month.

I have the honour to be,

sir,

Your most obedient Servant,

duz_to_:- D.M.O.& I. (2).

G.O.C.,C.C., Hong Kong.

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Major-General,

\\ttaché.

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