793.94 Commission/730
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Nanking to the Chinese Legation79
Sir John Simon’s reported explanation to the effect that in his speech before the League Assembly he had not taken sides but had only attempted [Page 444] to promote conciliation receives extensive comments in the Chinese press this morning. The Hsin Chin Jih Pao, Nanking, declares: “This verbal explanation from Great Britain is most timely but still more we hope that it will be followed by actual deeds, showing Britain’s real impartiality and support of League principles.” The Chiu Kuo Jih Pao, Nanking, says that the real test whether Great Britain entertains genuine goodwill toward China lies in actual deeds. “If Britain has real determination to uphold the sanctity of the League Covenant, then she should give it concrete expression in terms of action. If, on the other hand, mere empty words were used to soothe the Chinese while real help was given to Japan, then we fear that the day of Chinese diplomatic defeat would be the beginning of the revival of the regrettable anti-British movements of 1925.” The Tah Kung Pao, Tientsin, notes with satisfaction the British explanation. “We do not deny”, the paper says, “the sympathetic stand of the British Government toward our reconstructive movements but we have also noted the general growth of British trade in China in consequence thereof. On the basis of such friendly feelings we shall look forward toward further evidences of British goodwill. Nevertheless, deeds are always more convincing than arguments. While the Chinese people cannot fail to recognize any practical manifestations of British intentions as given in their explanations, no mere apologia, on the other hand, will be sufficient to dispel their doubts.”
- Copy of telegram transmitted to the Department by the Chinese Legation, December 18, 1932.↩