Swords of Damocles - Istanbul Conference (1929)

[Kingpoleon]

We have given our responses to the Chinese offer. Here they are again:

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[Kingpoleon]

We cannot afford to give up Hong Kong for absolutely nothing. We would be willing to pay a good deal for a ten year lease there, a guarantee of free trade with Hong Kong unless canceled by future authorities of Hong Kong, a massive if not complete reduction of Chinese tariffs on British goods, a promise that the federal Chinese military will never attack or even enter without the request of the Hong Kong authorities, and a guarantee of great autonomy for Hong Kong.

Otherwise, it would take a good deal of money to get us out of Hong Kong in two years or less and/or very, very substantial concessions.

[Kingpoleon]

Unless Hong Kong is purchased, our governance will not be changed for at least ten years. So, yes?

[Kingpoleon]

X Prime Minister Winston Churchill