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GREAT BRITAIN AND CHINA.

(Radio message to England given by Mr. Han Lih-wu

on the 7th September, 1939).

49

This broadcast was arranged a fortnight ago, but with the

turn of events that has marked the week which has just passed, I

feel intensely that our two peoples, the British and the Chinese,

are nearer to each other than ever before in thought, in ideals

and in spirit. May I first of all assure you and convey to you

our great sympathy and moral support in this time of your national

stress.

The relations between Great Britain and China which is the

subject of my talk can be briefly summarized as follows: that they

have been increasingly cordial for the last decade and more, the t

it is hoped this cordial friendship will not only continue but

that in the years to come with both Great Britain and China

intimately bound together by the same ideals and principles, this

friendship will grow and expand.

That the relations between our two countries in the last decade

and more have been increasingly cordial and have been attended by

better mutual understanding and closer co-operation is a metter

of fact. Future historiens can happily record thet this new ere

of relations between Great Britain and Chins began on the eve of

the success of the Nationalist Army and the subsequent establishment

of the National Government. The so-called "Christmas Memorandum"

of 1926 which was formulated by the illustrious brother of your

present Prime Minister and in which your Government geve cleer recognition of the new national spirit and laid down the general

guiding principle that the unity, integrity and strength of our

country which are absolutely essential for us are also necessary

to you for the purpose of trade, opened this new era as I

prophesized at the time while I wes in England. Some importent

contributions which furthered better Anglo-Chinese relations and

which may be here mentioned are the friendly return of the con-

the cessions in various places; the despatch of/Sir Frederick

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Leith Ross/

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