FO371-41657 — Page 24

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IDA

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defence.

6.

AUSTRALIA, NEW ZEALAND and CANADA may well be

among the first great industrialized British countries in

a position to develop trade on a large scale with CHINA

as they will not be themselves devastated. How the problem

of the future of HONG KONG will be dealt with will concern

them greatly. What will be the future obligations of the

Empire in maintaining World Peace, with particular reference

to the Pacific? Who will be our partners in this obligation?

What military bases particularly naval and air bases will be

Sand

available? Should HONG KONG be one of them? If so, what

contributions will other Powers make, and what conditions will

be propounded for them? How would the Dominions support

the Empire's obligations if we had no bases? All these and

many other questions affecting the future of the Pacific

will have to be examined in the light of British Imperial

Then there is the problem of CHINA herself!

interests.

CHINA is only potentially a great Power. She

may improve and maintain her position and develop into a

First-Class Power after the war, but she might also fall

into civil war and decay. Are her promises and record such

that we can afford to give up the substantial base of HONGKONG

in exchange for shadowy promises?

The Chinese have an anti-foreign complex. They

have established a reputation for being a peace-loving and

peaceable people. History, however, shows a long record of

intrigue, wars and treachery among their leaders and

politicians. In the intervals between civil wars and discord

CHINA under strong rulers has expanded her frontiers greatly

through the centuries, mostly by military conquests, and

when weak has often been invaded. The invaders have been

either assimilated or ejected by uprisings secretly organized.

There is in CHINA a great tradition of Nationalism and Secret

The Kuomintang and the Chinese Communist Parties

carry on those traditions, which have their good and bad points.

Societies.

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