SECRET (2)
Copies to.
Peking No. 1 G.0.0. C. in C. Jeihaiwei.
General Duncan.
527866
25
REC
GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
HONGKONG. 31st December, 1927.
30040/25ir,
пого
no6q
In your telegram, dated the 11th November,
you asked for my views on Sir Miles Lampson's telegram to
the Foreign Office No. 1576 of the 7th November, concerning
the strength at which the British military forces in China
should be maintained. As I understand that a decision on
this matter has already been taken by His Majesty's Government, I have not thought it necessary to reply to your
inquiry by telegram; but, having regard to the prospect of
this question being reopened before long, I have the honour
to report my opinion by despatch.
2.
I entirely agree with Sir Miles Lampson in considering that the ruling factor in deciding this matter
must be the situation in China; and I agree with the decision, already taken on the joint recomendation of Sir Miles Lampson, Sir Reginald Tyrwhitt, Sir Sidney Barton and General
J. Duncan, that the minimum British force at present
necessary in China is eleven battalions, namely
(a) four in Hong Kong:
(b) five in Shanghai: and
(c) two in Tientsin.
This decision holds good, I understand, for the next six
months at least.
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE".
LIEUTENANT COLONEL L.C.S. AMERY, L.P.,
&c.,
&C.,
&c.
3./