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F 12048/3139/10.
Sir,
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FOREIGN OFFICE,
225
$.
#.1.
9th December, 1939.
I am directed by Viscount Halifax to refer to war
office letter 083/6163(4.0.2) of the 21st November on the
subject of the War office land and buildings at Tientsin.
2. while it seums unlikely that His Majesty's
Government will in the future want to reinforce the present
token garrison in North China, Lord Halifax feels that to
offer the property for sale now would be tantamount to a
public declaration that His Majesty's Government had
abandoned all intention of sending the troops back to
Tientsin and would conflict with their communication to the
Japanese Government to the effect that the reduction of the
garrison was temporary and that they reserved all their rights
under the Boxer Protocol. Moreover, it is unlikely that a
fair price could be obtained for the property at the present
time.
3. For the above reasons Lord Halifax would advise
that the property at Tientsin should be retained until the
situation in North Ching becomes more settled.
4. The same objections would not of course apply to
short term leases of the buildings either in whole or in part.
I a,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
The Under-Secretary of State,
War Office.
(Sgd.) ASHLEỶ CLAPVE
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