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Any independent step therefore which His Majesty's
Government may take at Canton will at once affect not
only the rest of China, but our relations with other
powers having interests in the Far East.
3. The provocative attitude of the group of
Extremists now in control of Canton may be deliberately
calculated to provoke retaliatory measures whereby they
hope to gain in popularity in their own country and to
single out Great Britain as the oppressor of China. Such
a development would be specially unfortunate at the present
moment when the Tariff Conference is about to meet at
Peking, and solidarity among the powers and confidence in
our good intentions on the part of the Chinese people are
particularly necessary. Mr. Chamberlain will not hesitate
to recommend strong action if and when he considers that
the situation could be permanently improved thereby; but
he would prefer to take such action in concert with other
powers, whose treaty rights are equally at stake, and
whom, as explained above, we are under an obligation
to consult; and he would be most reluctant to act alone,
except in circumstances where it will be clear to
unprejudiced opinion that he had no reasonable alternative.
4. I am to add, for Mr. Amery's confidential
information, that the other Washington powers have been
already tentatively approached as to their views on the
Canton situation, and that, with the possible exception
of the French Government, they have not been in favour
of action. His Majesty's Representative at Peking is
however