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impossible without action calculated to
involve hostilitie s with the Chinese forces,
the men on the spot must have full discretion
to evacuate.
11.
We recognise that these instructions
place a heavy responsibility on those who have to
take a decision, whether to hold on or to
evacuate. Their position in this respect is
similar to that of an officer commanding a
rearguard, where the enemy's advance guard
consists of the mob and the main body is the
Cantonese army. They must therefore be given
wide discretion.
12.
Subject to the above, and to the
consent of the Governor, we recommend that the
General Officer Commanding at Hong Kong, in
consultation with the local Naval authorities
and the acting Consul-General at Canton, should
be authorised, if the situation becomes serious,
to send to Shameen such troops as he thinks
necessary and as he can spare, having due
regard to the security of Hong Kong and to
the call which may at any moment arise from
Shanghai for the despatch of the Indian Battalion.
13. We cannot recommend, however, that
authority should be given to block the entrance
to the river, as proposed, much less the bombing
of Canton, at present.
2, Whitehall Gardens, S.W.1.
14th January, 1927,
17.