Americans Distressed Over Hongkong But Claim Other Bases

Northern Advocate, 25 August 1945, Page 4

Americans Distressed Over Hongkong But Claim Other Bases

LONDON, Aug. 24

Observing that American liberals are said to be distressed because the British Foreign Minister (Mr. Bevin) did not promise to hand over Hongkong to the Chinese, the “Manchester Guardian” refers to security bases held or claimed by other nations, and adds:— “It is diffiult to see why the British Empire alone should be. expected to give up the possessions it managed, not without cost, to retain over the last hundred years. This is not to argue that either Mr. Bevin, or Mr. Attlee, in his statement in the House yesterday. said the last word on the subject. "It is not enough to strike an attitude and repeat, ‘What we have we hold,’ nor can we expect to return to our possessions in the Far East as if nothing had happened in the interval. “Our retention of bases such fis Hongkong and Singapore can be justified on ground of security as much, or as little, as can the American demand for Saipan and Okinawa, or the Russian wish for Port Arthur, although it is to be hoped that one day all these will become bases of the United Nations.

“However, our retention of Burma, Malaya and other territories in Southeast Asia can be justified only by a new and vigorous policy to improve the welfare of the native people and hasten the 'time of their self-govern-ment. Burma was mentioned in the. House of Commons yesterday, and the Labour Government should show an early indication of its plans in Malaya to balance the ‘lmperialist’ pronouncement' that so despaired our warm-hearted liberal friends across the water.” The “New York Herald-Tribune” correspondent in Washington says informed diplomats assert that the United States does not question British sovereignty over Hongkong, and feels that the future of the territory is a matter for the British add Chinese to settle.

The diplomats said the present policy was at direct odds with the personal beliefs of President Roosevelt, who favoured the termination of British sovereignty at Hongkong and contemplated eventual self-government for many Far Eastern territories at present administered by foreign Powers.