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SPECIAL DISTRIBUTION AND WAR CABINET.
11th November 1959.
Decypher.
From:
Sir R. Campbell
FRANCE.
(Paris)
D. 10.45 p.m.
11th November 1939.
R.
1.00 a.m.
12th November 1939.
No.395.
F113882
12 NOV 1939
IMMEDIATE.
not yet
0000000000
Al
My telegram No. 844 Saving.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs state in reply to the
enquiry made of the French Embassy in London on November 10th
that they do not propose to issue any statement themselves. If
they did, it would be on the following lines:-
"The French Government which maintains in North China, in
accordance with International Protocol of 1901 certain military
forces, has decided for reasons of military convenience arising
from conflict in Europe to maintain there only the effectives
necessary to protect buildings and maintain order in Tientsin
concession. The personnel affected will shortly receive another
assignment. This decision has been notified to the various Govern-
ments who equally maintain garrisons in North China under the 1901
Protocol".
It
2. The Ministry think an announcement in this form would
have advantage over the wording of the proposed statement in
London for publication on November 13th communicated to them.
would avoid terms "withdrawal" and "token detachments", which
they feel might displease the Chinese and the Japanese respectively.
12
NOV 17
1920
F.O. REISTRY)
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