[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.1 359
Printed for the Committee of Imperial Defence. March 1926.
SECRET.
677-B.
COMMITTEE OF IMPERIAL DEFENCE.
18 Copy No.
SITUATION IN CHINA, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO CANTON.
(Previous C.ID. Paper No. 617-B.)
Report by the Chiefs of Staff.
1. The Committee of Imperial Defence at its 210th Meeting agreed-
That the Chiefs of Staff should be asked to review the situation and plans for dealing with any emergency which might arise at Hong Kong or elsewhere as the result of the disturbed conditions at Canton."
2. In June 1925 we examined the situation in China and submitted a Report (C.I.D. Paper No. 617-B), in which we reviewed all our interests in the various parts of that country.
3. Since that date there has been no change of any appreciable significance in the military situation, while, as regards political affairs, the forecast which was then made by the Foreign Office of the probable trend of events has been fulfilled in a remarkable manner. The views expressed and the recommendations contained in our last Report (C.I.D. Paper No. 617-B) may therefore be accepted as applicable to the situation as it exists to-day, and we invite attention to its provisions.
4. We have had the application of our earlier Report to the particular case of Canton examined by a Joint Staff Conference of the three Services, and we concur in their Report, which is as follows:-
"It was unanimously agreed that the only practical measure that can be taken is to institute a blockade of the approaches to Canton.
It was further agreed that—
(a.) The blockade of Canton presupposes and necessitates prior inter-
national agreement. (A statement is attached (Appendix I showing the international character of the shipping using the port of Canton in 1924, from which it is evident that a large number of nations are affected.)
(b) The evacuation of Shameen would be an essential preliminary to the institution of a blockade, as otherwise the necessity for protecting the Shameen would involve us in military commitments on a large scale for the protection and maintenance of its non-Chinese inhabitants. (c) Subject to the evacuation of Shameen having been effected, the bombardment of selected objectives, such as Bocca Tigris and Whampoa Forts, or the Whampoa Military College, would be of little or no military value, and is not recommended.
It was decided to draw attention to Telegram No. 83, dated the 1st January, 1926, from Sir R. Macleay (copy attached, Appendix II). Should
[14319]