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CHINA.
Future British Garrisons in.
(Previous
Reference: Cabinet 34 (28). Con- clusion 8.)
5.The Cabinet had before them a Memorandum by
the Secretary of State for War (Paper C.P.-247 (28)
stating that in the opinion of his advisers the
military situation is now such that the retention
of as many as three British Battalions in Chihli
is unnecessary, and suggesting that the time had
now come to implement the Cabinet decision of
May 2nd (Cabinet 26 (28), Conclusion 3), which
would imolve the withdrawal of two Battalions
during the early part of the coming Trooping
Season, without relief, one from Shanghai and one
from the area Peking-Tientsin-Tongshan.
The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
informed the Cabinet that he was in communication
with the British Minister at Peking in regard to
the War Office proposals, and before expressing
a final opinion he would like to receive Sir Miles
Lampson's views. He also stated that he was in
communication with Sir Miles Lampson in regard to
the detachments at Nanking and Shameen.
The Cabinet agreed
Subject to the concurrence of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to approve the proposals of the Secretary of State for War as summarised above.
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