285
to a small committee, and it mas accordingly decided
to appoint such a comittes consisting of the Japanese,
French, Italiea and iserican representatives and myself,
I was aure that the G-in-C. entertained some
doubta as to the feasibility of international assiom,
so far as naval and military operations were concerned,
but, whilst fully comprehending his attitude, I felt
that it would be both difficult and umrise for me to
discourage this initiative on the part of the Diplomie
Bady. 1 accordingly explained the position to Sir R.
Tyrwhitt and asked him for his viym as to the feasi❤
bility of a specific form of joint naval setion, such
as an interationel patrol of Bias Day, Sir R.
Tyrwhitt's reply showed that he was net very sanguine
as to the effianay of such a patrel, but he agreed
nevertheless that there would be no harm in its discu5+
alon by the Committer, which, he anticipated, would
eventually refer the proposal to the Senior Haval
Officer for an opinion as to its technical practicabi-
11*y.
it
10. The appointment of the Committes by the Diplomatie
Body ma particularly oportune in that is coincided
with the visit to Faking of the Governer of Hongkong.
Two meetings of the Committee were held on November 14th
and Siz C. Clementi, having nodaybed an invitation to
um
attend, was able to furnish valuable information on the
subject which naturally carrisé mach weight with my
collɛagus%.
11. Copies of the minutes of the two meetings held
ars enslosed kerowi
Briefly, the view of the
Committee/