FO371-23517 — Page 100

MARGIN.

NOTHING

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Minutes.

2

The British position in the Far East in

the event of a general European conflagration

would obviously depend to a great extent on the

attitude taken by Japan, and Sir R. Craigie's

telegram No. 269 of March 23rd arrives at an

opportune moment for an examination of the

question.

So long as Japan remained neutral, even

malevolently neutral, we should, I presume, do

everything possible to prevent her from siding

actively with the enemy powers. To that end

we should be compelled to avoid too open a

collaboration with the Chinese Government in the in

struggle with the Japanese. In fact, one can

imagine circumstances in which we might be

forced in the other direction.

If the

United States kept aloof from the war, and our

situation in Europe became desperate, we might

have to cut our losses in the Far East and buy

the neutrality of the Japanese by acquiescing

in their Far Eastern policy in order to save

ourselves at home. I cannot help thinking

that the present enquiry is due to the desire

of the Chinese Government to forestall, or at

least delay, such a change of attitude on our

part by committing us in advance to an

understanding with themselves.

If, on the other hand, Japan became a

declared enemy we should want to assist the

Chinese, so far as we could, in their struggle

with the Japanese and obtain from them any help

which they could give us in return.

The

trouble/

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