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TO CHINA.
Cypher telegram to Sir A. Clark Kerr (Shanghai)
Foreign Office, 21st September, 1939.
No. 930.
3.30 a.m.
Your telegram No.1010 [of the 11th September: question of China declaring war on Germany).
I agree. So long as Japan remains neutral China can be of little assistance to us in war against Germany and by ranging herself formally on our side she would provide her own enemies with a pretext for adopting a still more hostile attitude towards us.
2. On 14th September Chinese Ambassador addressed a communi-
cation to us in which after reference to the community of interests arising from common resistance to aggression by Great Britain,
France, Poland and China, it was stated that Chinese Government wished to be reassured that policy of His Majesty's Government in regard to the Far East would continue to be based on observance of international agreements, particularly the Nine Power Treaty, Covenant and resolutions of the League. Chinese Government were anxious to proceed at an early date with preliminary arrangements for mutual co-operation such as a secret defensive pact vis-à-vis Japan and His Majesty's Government's views were invited. In
order not to embarrass Great Britain and France, Chinese Government did not propose to declare participation in the European war and would confine itself to expressions of solidarity and readiness to offer all possible assistance in man-power and resources.
3. On 18th September Sir A. Cadogan replied orally to the Chinese Ambassador on the following lines. His Majesty's Government had no intention of departing from their international engagements, but material aid which they could offer would be severely curtailed by war. His Majesty's Government gratefully
acknowledged....
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