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recognised, however, that any calling out of reservists
would be regarded by the public a very serious. The
possibility was discussed of giving orders for the British
troops to proceed, in the first instance, to India, or
Singapore, or Hong Kong, but this course did not commend
itself to the Cabinet.
After full consideration, the Cabinet agreed
(u) That if the telegram from Tokyo should show
unistakably that the Japanese have no serious
intention of co-operating with military forces in the
defende of Shanghai, the whole of the dispositions
decided on by the Cabinet on January 17th (Cabinet 2
(27), Conclusion 2), should be carried out:
(0) That if by 8.p.m. the same evening no reply had
been received from Tokyo, the whole of the above
di spositions should be carried out with the exception
of the issue of final notices to Class A. Reservists,
which should be suspended until a further decision was
taken.
(c) That if the telegram from Tokyo should show that
the Japanese are prepared to co-operate, or should be
indefinite, authority should be given to the Foreign
Secretary and such Ministers as might be within reach
of London during the next few days to take a decision
on behalf of the Cabinet as to what modificatione (if
any) should be made in the previous military
dispositions;
(a) To take note of the instructions sent to Canton
on the recommendation of the Committee of Chiefs of
Staff (No.49 to Peking, repeated to Canton):
(e) To take note that the Secretary of State for War
was