[3484] 14640/P637 200 pads 10/23sa 754 G & S 126
TELEGRAM.
SECRET.
From ADMIRALTY.
To
0.in 0. China 813.
Repeat H.M.Minister, Pekin 2.
160
OUT
No.
12
DATE
1.5.27
SENT
0050.
Foreign Office Oypher K. (Recyphered).
IMME DIANE. In continuation of my immediately preceding
telegram (3) His Majesty's Government have further
decided that you should be authorised to take immedia te
punitive action in the event of outrages which
(i) endanger the lives of British nationals.
Such action is to be confined to games where British lives are actually placed in imminent peril.
(11) endanger British property when there is actual
deliberate and wanton destruction of property.
In all cases not covered by (i) and (ii) above, or where the
violation of rights only is in question, punitive action is
to be taken to restore such rights only after the prior
sanction of His Majesty's Government has been obtained.
(4) In so deciding, however, you should in such cana
that may arise be guided by the following important
considerations:-
(1) In all measures of retaliation authorised by you it
is to be borne in mind that the sole object is to prevent the recurrence of the action giving rise to it by forcing the Chinese authorities to assume and oarry out the responsibility, which properly belongs to them, for affording adequate protection. Any proposals of a wider scope or with any other purpose will still require particular reference to and sanction by His Majesty's Government. 0050/12.
P.
1st Lord.
C.N.S. D.O.N.S. A.C.N.S.
D.C.
D.D.O.D. (2). D.N.IT
D.of P. M.8.
Circulation outside Admiralty
war Office, Air Ministry, C.I.D.
Foreign Office, Colonial Office.