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52
command in case of emergencies elsewhere, having regard to the political situation then existing. As the relations of His Lajesty's Government with Foreign Powers in the Far Bast have undergone no al tera tion it would still be possible to detach the force named temporarily from the Hong Kong garrison in case of emergency, and, although the Council do not in any way wish to question the correctness of Gir J. Jordan's views, I am again to urge, in view of the General Officer Commanding's statement and the facilities for easy reinforcement from India, that the reductions in the Hong Kong garrison can be carried out as arranged with- out endangering the safety of British interests in South
China.
饥
به
With reference to the last paragraph of your
letter under reply, I am to slate that the Army Council
will arrange to leave such transport with the garrison in
North China as will, in their opinion, be sufficient to
enable the troops to carry out the duties which they may be
called upon to perform. In this connection I am to
point out that it would be unsound from a military point of
view to send small detachments to isolated stations in
North China at a distance from the Peking-Shan-hai-kuan
railway or the Yangtze river, and that British communities
at such places should be informed that in the event of
there being a likelihood of an outbreak of anti-foreign
feeling on the part of the Chinese they should make their way to the nearest post held by foreign troops, and that if they elect to remain at their stations they do so at
their own risk.
1 80,
Bir
Your obedient servant,
(Sd.) B.B.Cubitt.