Sept. 6.
Practical and concrete "ce-operation between the British and American authorities China is a feature of the present situation. Surprise may therefore be felt here that, in London and Washington, discussion of joint] Anglo-American action is framed in the interroyative, The close contacts of the naval and military forces of the two countries} receive daily illustration in Shanghai. One of the three Shanghals—the International Sottloment—is actually being governed by a Council with an American Chairman who has British Vice-Chairman as well as another American and four more British colleagues The administration under their control reflects similar international concord. Nor is there any ranson to doubt that the relations between the diplomatic representatives of the two countries on the spot are any. les harmonious. London and. Washington, however, have to consider political factors' which fare but dimly perceived from this distance 'My, Cordell Hull has to keep in mind noi merely the situation in China but the effect on American opinion of any diplomatic action which might appear to link up Washington' policy with the confused state of Burope. So he naturally repudiate intention of leaning on Great Britain and he not inclined to advise President Roosevelt to take any step which could be interpreted In that sense. It is useless for British arties to argue that such fears are unjustified. American Government, like' any democratic} government elsewhere, has to Keep its ear to the ground and certain political traditions which somehow or other breed distrust of British diplomacy cannot be ignored. It would. be fatal it Anglo-American unity became a plant of forced growth. Wisdom is] shown both in Washington and London in endeavouring to let it grow of its own virility fand in cultivating it thore by tacit agreement than explicit prescription. This may at times provoke impatience when it seems that much could be done by a swift exhibition fof joint accord, but by preserving individual freedom of action the two countries give all
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.