FO371-23517 — Page 124

No. 892

(F 3024/9889|10)

SECRET

Page 124

Q

18

FORSIGN OFFICE, S. 7. 1.,

14th April, 1939.

с

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is Excellency

sir,

I enclose a copy of a despatch which I am

addressing to H.M. Ambassador at Shanghal on the

subject of a suggestion which the Chinese Abassador

in London was recently instructed to put to me for

collective action between Great Britain and China

in defending their possessions and interests in the

Far East.

2. M. Cambon, of the French Embassy, has now

informed me of the parallel approach made to the

French Government by the Chinese Ambassador in Paris.

The French Government, he said, were thinking of

returning as sympathetic a reply as possible, though

naturally they were alive to all the difficulties

inherent in giving effect to any such scheme. They

desired to know on what lines .. Government were

replying to the Chinese Ambassador in London and

they enquired whether H.M. Government thought that

there might be some advantage in endeavouring to

interest the United States Government in the Chincse

suggestions. The French Government were inclined to

think that although the Chinese sche e, as propounded,

was probably unworkable, it might be found to contain

practical elements which might form the basis for an

exchange of views with the United States Government

or even for some general arrangement providing for

regular consultation between the four Governments.

The Right Honourable Sir E. Phipps, G.C. M.G., C. V.0.,

etc., etc., etc.

3./

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