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This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be
returned to the Foreign Office if not required for official use.
187
CLINA
Cypher telegram to Sir M. Lampson, (Peking).
Foreign Office, 3rd May, 1927. 12.30 p.m.
No. 340.
INMEDIATE.
Your latest telegrams relative to the Nanking
incident together with the telegrams from the Commander-
in-Chief and a further report from the Chiefs of Staff
have received most careful consideration. His Majesty's
Government have, after examining the various proposals
in all their bearings, finally decided against either the
bombardment of Hanyang arsenal as a sanction for the
Nanking outrages, or a re-occupation of the Hankow con-
cession, on the ground, that the disadvantages attending
both these operations greatly outweigh any advantages
which might possibly accre from them. It is therefore
undesirable in present circumstances to proceed with
either of these measures.
Having so decided and being aware that the other
interested Powers are equally unprepared to agree to a
policy of senctions in principle, and that the question
therefore of applying any other particular sanctions
must be relegated to an indefinite future, His Majesty's
Govorament are of opinion that no useful purpose will be served by addressing any further note to Mr. Chen on
this matter. The mere issue of minatory notes and
peremptory demands, which are unsupported by a unani-
mous determination to carry out jointly concrete and
effective measures for ensuring their fulfilment in
caso of refusal cammot but lower the prestige of all
the/