SECRET
CABINET 10(27)
95
41
Extract from Conclusions of a Meeting held at 10 Downing Street, on Wednesday, February 16th, 1927, at 11.30.a.m.
CHINA
(Previous Reference: Cabinet 9 (27) Con- clusion 1.)
2. Referring to the reports in the Press
that the agreements in regard to the future of
the British Concessions at Hankov and Kiukiang
had not been signed owing to some interpretation
placed on Sir Austen Chamberlain's speech in the House
of Commons by Eugene Chen, the Secretaryof State for
Foreign Affairs informed the Cabinet that he has as
yet received no details from Mr. O'Malley at Kankow.
There appeared to have been a delay in telegraphic
communications over the land lines in China, and it
was only that morning that a long telegram had been
received, which was now being deciphered but was not
likely to be available in time for communication to
the Cabinet that morning.
In the circumstances Sir Austen Chamberlain
did not wish to raise any question regarding the
position in China.