COPY OF LETTER.
No. 1096/F.
ediate.
Sir,
Foreign Office.
331
11th. January 1916.
I am directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to inform you, with
reference to War Office letter 083/4942. (M.0.3.), of January
2nd. that in his opinion which has been confirmed by a telegram
from His Majesty's Minister at Peking the chances of an anti-
foreign outbreak at Canton are most remote, that the presence
hundred on the Shameen of two hundred to three/troops from Hong Kong
would provide an almost certain assurance against any attack
which might be threatened and that, in the event of serious
trouble, the British community could be withdraw from the
Shameen and escape down the river to Hong Kong.
With regard to the general question of defending the
foreign settlements throughout China, I am to state that, in
the view of the Secretary of State, no force short of some
thousands of Japanese or other troops stationed at each port
could afford any real protection against a serious anti-foreign
movement and that he would deprecate making this suggestion.
I am to add that in the opinion of His Majesty's Represent-
ative and Consular Officers in China the contingency of anti-
foreign risings is happily growing more and more remote.
I am,
Sir,
Your most obedient,
humble Servant,
(sd.) W. Langley.
The Secretary,
to the Army Council.
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