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proceed to North China to examine the situation at
Tientsin and Peking:
(a) That the Foreign Office and War Office should
concert together in sending the necessary instructions
to Sir Miles Lampson and General Duncan.
The Secretary of State for War read a telegram
which he had just received from General Duncan, commanding the Shanghai Defence Force, recording conversations with the Japanese General Matsui and with General Butler of the
United States Marine Corps. The latter, who had just
returned from Peking, had emphasized the necessity for
i
withdrawing the Legations in the early future and for
concentrating large forces at Tientsin.
The proposed withdrawal
In regard to the proposed withdrawal of the Indian
of Indian Mixed Brigade, the Cabinet had before them a Memorandum Troops.
'by the Secretary of State for War (Paper C.P.169(27))
giving particulars of the cost of the retention of the
Indian Mixed Brigade, but recommending the withdrawal only
of a Pack Battery.
The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs
reported that he had learned from Tokio that the Japanese Government felt some suspicion that the Shanghai Defence Force was not to be withdrawn. From this point of view