Orwell’s Thoughts on Support for China in World War Two & the Closure of the Burma Road – 16th July 1940

Orwell considered the war in the Far East and the British decision to safeguard Hong Kong by closing the Burma Road to British arms supplies to China on the 16th July 1940 in his diary:

“No real news for some days, except the British semi-surrender to Japan, i.e. the agreement to stop sending war supplies along the Burma Road for a stated period. This however is not so definite that it could not be revoked by a subsequent government. F.* thinks it is the British government’s last effort (i.e. the last effort of those with investments in Hong Kong, etc.) to appease Japan, after which they will be driven into definitely supporting China. It may be so. But what a way to do things – never perform a decent action until you are kicked into it and the rest of the world has ceased to believe that your motives can possibly be honest.’**

*F. is thought to be Tosco Fyvel, a Jewish emigre and Zionist of Orwell’s acquaintance.

** Britain did close the Burma Road to British arms traffic after Japan threatened Hong Kong – it did show the desire to safeguard the Colony and lack of support for China against Japanese attack – a contemporary retelling of the tale below…