53
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.
Printed for the Committee of Imperial Defence. January 1927.
34
SECRET.
764-B.
COMMITTEE OF IMPERIAL DEFENCE.
Copy No.
18
Situation in China, January 11, 1927, to January 21, 1927.
(Previous C.I.D. Papers Nos. 617-B, 677-B, 681-B, 722-B, 727-B, 750-B, 756–B, 759-B, 761-B and 762–B.)
NOTE BY THE SECRETARY.
OWING to the rapid development of the situation in China and the necessity to take quick decisions both in regard to the policy to be adopted and the military measures to be taken in pursuance of this policy, the Prime Minister issued instruc- tions that the various reports called for from the Chiefs of Staff Sub-Committee should be submitted direct to the Cabinet, without being considered in the first instance by the Committee of Imperial Defence.
2. In order that the Committee of Imperial Defence should be informed of the course of events, the Prime Minister directed that a memorandum should be prepared for circulation to the Committee outlining the measures recommended and the con- clusions formulated. This memorandum is circulated herewith, and the Committee will be asked to take note of it at their next meeting.
2, Whitehall Gardens, S. W. 1, January 24, 1927.
M. P. A. HANKEY.
Narrative of Events in connection with the Situation in China, January 11, 1927, to January 21, 1927.
This
1. In accordance with the instructions of the Prime Minister, and at the request of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, the Chiefs of Staff Sub-Committee was assembled on the 11th January, 1927, to consider the situation in China. meeting was attended by Mr. Mounsey, on behalf of the Foreign Office, and by Captain W. J. C. Lake, Ř.N., who had recently returned from the China Station.
2. After reviewing the situation, the Chiefs of Staff drew up a report which was circulated as C.I.D. Paper No. 756-B. The conclusions and recommendations contained in this report were summarised as follows:-
"(1.) The Smaller Concession Ports.
The protection of the smaller Concessions must, as indicated in our first Report (C.I.D. Paper No. 617-B) devolves upon the Naval Forces. The Navy, however, can only afford protection against mob violence. If it is a question of dealing with military forces evacuation will usually be the only course. (2.) As regards the particular ports, our conclusions are as follows:-
(a.) Hankow and Kiukiang.-Even if these Concessions are returned to their proper owners, we do not recommend any plans based on the assumption that they can be defended against Chinese Nationalist forces or against anything more than mob violence.
(b.) A moy.--The arrangements for the protection of the Concession of Amoy should be left to the Naval Commander-in-Chief in consultation with the Military authorities and the local Consular representative.
[15680]
B