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that reason and in view of the great importance
of the decision now to be taken that I submit it..
But it has the disadvantage that if it failed of its
purpose it might well hesten a crisis.
I venture in any case to beg most earnestly for
immediate instructions on this telegram. It is com-
monly urged that our present troubles are in great
measure due to our policy of lagging constantly behind
events and to our repeated failure to apply in time
appropriate remedy whether by concession or the reverssq.
To my mind it is clear that if we let things
drift on the Yangtze a situation may at any moment
arise which would force upon us immediate choice
between armed action in defence of our vital interesta
or their abandonment by complete capitulation to
Cantonese.
I feel confident that His Majesty's Government
entertain no question of the latter alternative.
I
en particularly enxious to be regarded neither as an
alarmist nor as an exaggerator. I should like there...
fore to state in conclusion that though blind optimism
would be criminal in the existing circumstances I still
cherish the hope that as a result of the general tone
of my conversations with Chen that with luck and good
guidance we may be able to come to terms and so avoid
the most unpleasant alternative of defending last ditch
whatever that may be.
I feel it is only right to add that in some
quarters here it is thought that present big move of
Northern troops south along the Kinhan and Pukow
line/