the prestige of the Nationalist Government.
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(b) Militarily. The military situation in Chekiang is growing
critical. The military authorities must ascertain
whether they have to cope with only one or with two
parties of enemies. we shall make our military arrangements to deal with him alone. If there are also British troops to be dealt with
If Sun Chuan Fang is our only foe,
besides Sun Chuan Fang, we shall have to plan other
military arrangements.
For this reason the military authorities called upon. Chen, the Foreign Minister, to voice for them their opinion as regards the landing of British troops in Shanghai. The Foreign Minister did so on behalf of the Government and the military authorities as he was in duty bound.
In reply the British representative told him that the landing of the British troops in Shanghai was merely for the protection of the lives and property of the British there. Eugene Chen however again warned him that whatever the purpose of the landing of the British troops in Shanghai might be, the actual defence of Shanghai was really the business of Sun Chuan Fang's troops. If however the British troops also conceive as their object the defence of Shanghai, it would appear that when the Northern Expedition launches an attack on Shanghai, the British troops would be bound to work in co- operation with Sun Chuan Fang no matter what the original
This will objects for which they were sent may have been. give rise to a very serious problem. Therefore Minister Chen again informed him that the Nationalist Government pressed its objection to the mobilization of British troops in Shanghai
the and that if England refused to stop this movement, Nationalist Government would no longer tolerate such an intimidatory and insulting action. Our military authorities cannot ascertain what number of enemies they are to oppose in
Shanghai