CO129-418 - Public Offices & Others - 1914 — Page 54

0.2

Copy.

1083/4723

(K.0.1).

sir,

25/3/14.

51

With reference to your letter o. 11462/14, dated

the 19 th of Larch 1914, I am commanded by the Army Council

to place before you the following information for the consideration of Sir Edward Grey before it is finally decided to reverse the decision that the extra garrison in Hong Kong may be withdrawn at the end of April.

The Army Council have made all arrangements for carrying out the moves; the units in Hong Kong have been informed that they are about to return to India, and a battalion in India has been informed that their move to Hong Kong has been postponed for about two months as a consequence of the alteration in the programme of reliefs.

The additional units now in Hong Kong were sent there over two years ago at very short notice as a temporary

measure. The reversal of the orders when there is no

apparent change in the condition of affairs in China will

create discontent among the men of these units, and will

impose considerable hardship on the unit in India, which

would then have to proceed to Hong kong at a fortnight's

notice.

I am again to point out that the General Officer

Commanding South China reported in 1911 (before the normal

Hong kong garrison had been augmented) that 650 infantry, including 350 British, could be spared temporarily from his

Mer Secretary of State,

command

Foreign Office,

3. W.

se.

ces