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would not co-operate in sanctions, and the attitude of Japan (where there had been a change of Government) was uncertain. Italy
alone was whole-heartedly in favour of strong measures.
If
purely British action was to be undertaken, the precise moment would depend on whether a further communication was sent by the
Powers to the Nationalist Government.
The Cabinet were reminded that the great objection to
holding the Concession in January had been that British women
and children were living outside the Concession and their lives
This would have been in jeopardy if we had fired on the mob. limit ation no longer applied, and the Japanese had successfully
resisted Chinese attacks on their Concession.
Subject to a favourable reply from Sir Miles Lampson
to the Secretary of State's telegram (Appendix 111), the Cabinet were in principle in favour of the re-occupation of the British Concession at Hankow, as proposed in the telegram from the Naval- Commander-in-Chief (Appendix II) and supported by the General Officer Commanding Shanghai Defence rorce, the Consul-General at Shanghai, and now by the Chiefs of Staff, and agreed
(a) That, on the receipt of a reply from Sir iles Lampson to the
Secretary of State for roreign Affairs' telegram (Appendix III) the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Prime Minister and after consideration of any further information which the Committee of Chiefs of Staff might be able to furnish regarding the holding of the Concession during the period of low river, should have authority to authorise the re-occupation of the Concession and its return to British administration, unless, having regard to all the circumstances, the Prime Minister thought it necessary to summon a Cabinet for further considera-
tion of the question:
(b) That the Committee of Chiefs of Staff should consider further the question of the practicability of holding the British Concession at Hankow during the period of low river:
(c)