CO129-382 - Public Offices - 1911 — Page 7

Sir.

Urgent & Confidential.

9th : November,

11

6

With reference to semi-official communications

which have recently passed between the War Office and the

Admiralty, I am commanded by My Lords Commissioners of the

Admiralty to request that you will inform the Army Council

that, in consequence of representations made by the

Commander-in-Chief, China, that it may become necessary

land men from the Flest at Shanghai, and thus seriously

deplete the ships at a critical time, My Lords are of

opinion that troops should be held in readiness at long

Kong and transport provided in order that they may be ronde to proceed instantly to Shanghai to take the place of any mon whom it may be found necessam to land from the Fleq

2*** The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs has

expressed his concurrence in this proposal, and His Majesty's Minister at Peking has been informed.

t

My Lords would desire that if the Army Council

see no objection, and in view of the possible urgency of

the situation, the Senior Naval Officer at Shanghai should

be instructed to communicate direct with the Governor of

Hong Kong, with a view to the immediate despatch of troong

in the event of his being compelled to land men from the

Fleet in emergency as a temporary measure, and if the

circumstances in his judgment require the continued prasa

of a British armed force on shore at Shanghai, If the

Secretary,

Army

WAR

OFFICE.