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who fire on ships flying the British Flag, and generally to
defend by force and at once attacks on British lives and
property."
the Cabinet were informed that the Foreign Office had prepared a Memorandum which had been circulated to the
Chiefs of Staff Sub-Committee, who had been asked to prepare
for consideration draft instructions to the Naval Commander-
in-Chief giving effect to these proposals.
After some discussion the Cabinet agreed
-
(a) To take note with approval of the proposal of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to reciprocate the views of the new Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs as reported in Sir J.Tilley's telegram No.216, that, although our Alliance no longer existed, the spirit of it did;
(b) That, when considering the points referred to them at the previous Meeting of the Cabinet, the attention of the Chiefs of Staff Sub-Committee should be invited to the
following points:-
(i) The importance of keeping distinct the two
issues referred to them, viz: their own proposal that His Majesty's Ships should at once take
action