FAIRS OF CHINA.
CONFIDENTIAL.
205]
329.)
No. 1.
40459 [September 24.]
2 No 06
SECTION 4.
16
i
Mr. Carnegie to Sir Edward Grey. - (Received September 24.)
Peking, August 6, 1906.
A REPORT having reached me that a considerable portion of the French troops recently stationed in North China were to be withdrawn at an early date, I asked my French colleague whether this rumour was correct. M. Bapst replied that there was a certain amount of truth in what I had heard, as, according to present arrangements, time-expired men proceeding home were not being replaced. This, he said, would diminish the French forces by some 500 men in the course of the year. He told me that his Government had offered to bring the strength of his Legation guard up to 500 men. This had, however, been declined, for which he did not see the necessity, in view of the lack of accommodation for more men in the barracks. He was personally of the opinion that the time had not yet come for withdrawing the foreign troops from North China.
I learn that there was a question of doubling the present American Legation guard, but that it had now been decided to increase it by some twenty-five men only.
I have, &c.
(Signed) LANCELOT D. CARNEGIE,
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