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have your endorsement of this advice and your authority for Consuls to deal with proved cases of destitution or hardship. A public statement at home would carry much weight here.
4. We have of course no legal power to prevent evacuees from returning.
5. As far as I can see at present there is no immediate
danger of an attack on settlement by either belligerent and risk to life comes from stray shells, bombs and bullets but this
situation might change at any instant. There is no doubt that
evacuees, hearing situation has been quieter for some days, get the impression that they can now return.
6. Commander-in-Chief and Brigadier have been shown this telegram and concur in its terms.
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 107, repeated to Nanking, Peking, Hongkong. Copy to Commander-in-Chief, General- Officer-Commanding and Consul-General, Shanghai.
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