“Britain Has Sold China”

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 175, 27 July 1939, Page 7

“Britain Has Sold China”

Bowed to Force and Swallowed Her Pride

BITTER CHINESE COMMENT Received Wednesday, p.m. LONDON, July 26. A Chungking message says despite Marshal Chiang Kai-shek’s statement that he did not believe Britain was altering her policy towards China there is a definite feeling in Chinese Government circles that Britain has sold China in an effort to prevent Japan ruining her interests there. This is likely to result in the outbreaks of antiBritish feeling which will be seized on by Japanese agents. A Paris message says that the Chinese envoy, Dr. Wellington Koo, declares that Britain once more bowed to force and swallowed her pride when she made the Tdkio agreement. “One wonder.-: at the complacence with which Britain abandoned the firm stand taken up at the beginning of the Tientsin episode.” He said: “Despite Mr. Chamberlain’s references to intolerable insults it seems that Britain has again bowed to force and swallowed her pride. This cannot be expected to deter aggressors and promote confidence in Britain’s efforts to build up a peace front in Europe. The Apparent disposition to tolerate aggression in the Far East may soon prove a boomerang. The agreement is clearly unreconcilable with the Nine-Power Treaty Covenant.”

The Financial News says keen disappointment has been occasioned in Far Eastern banking circles over Sir John Simon’s statement in the Commons giving little or no hope of the provision of British assistance for the Chinese dollar.