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his, responsibility ought not to be interfered
with.
Consequently, that the First Lord of the
Admiralty should telegraph to the Naval Commander-in-
Chief, China, to explain that the telegram suspending
his order to the second Brigade to proceed direct to
Shanghai had been sent in order to give the Cabinet tim
to consider the position; that they had done so; and
that he was now authorised, if he still desired, to
repest or confirm his previous order; that a military
appreciation of the situation was being telegraphed
to the officer Commanding Troops, Shanghai, and that
he should consider the qucation of the destination of
the second Brigade with him during the approach of the
transports to Shanghai:
(a) That the Secretary of State for Wer should telegraph
to the officer Commanding Troops at Shanghai an
appreciation by the Chief of the Imperial General
Staff of the military position there:
(e)
To take note that the Shanghai Defence Force is taking
sufficient supplies to be self-supporting in the event
of a boycott or strike at Shunghai, end to invite the
Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to examine
whether it would be prudent or useful to consult with
other Powers concerned as to the action to be taken in
the international settlement at Shanghai in the event of
a boycott:
(f) To take note that the medical authorities at the War
office consider that Hong Kong is not a particularly
healthy station for troops; and that the over-crowding
involved in maintaining more than a Brigade there is
undesirable from a medical point of view, particularly
after the begining of the rainy season (possibly March
15th) after which troops ought not to be kept under
Cantas.
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