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66

IK,

3

the Japanese were desirous of increasing this quantity. It seems

inconceivable that whatever the Joint General Managers may do or

direct, Chinese workmen, artisans and engineers, will deny their

co-operation in the working of the Kaiping Lines now.

sent to

Having, in the light of these circumstances, given very

careful consideration to the terms of the reply which the F.. have

the Committee of Management have come to the con-

clusion that neither the British General Manager and the British

Staff, nor the Chinese General Manager and the Chinese Staff, will

find it helpful, and they regret that they were not given an oppor-

tunity of tendering their advice before the telegram was despatched.

In my Committee's view, it is essential, in the interest

of Great Britain and China, who are allies at war with Japan, that

the British General Manager and the British staff, and the Chinese

General Manager and the Chinese staff, should work in the closest co-operation i

co-operation is preparation £f planarinebion-and in the prepara

tion of plans for the conduct of the Administration's affairs and in

putting these plans into effect.

effe

It is, therefore, most desirable

that in whatever instructions or advice the British General Manager

may receive from the F.. the Chinese Government should concur,

and that exactly parallel instructions or advice should be issued

by the Chinese Government to the Chinese General Manager. That

instructions or advice would be appropriate the Chinese Government

in Chungking, who have no doubt ways and means of obtaining informa-

tion as to the situation in North China, may well be in the best

position to judge, and my Board of Directors think it highly desir-

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