CO129-437 - Public Offices - 1916 — Page 46

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Porrig ffice.

January

1916.

Jir:-

I am directed by secretary dir .Grey to inform

you, with reference to "ur Office letter 83/4942

(..0.3) of January ?nd, that in his opinion which

has been confirmed by a telegram from is Lajesty's Linister at reking the chances of an anti-foreign outbreak at Canton are most remote, that the presence

on the shameen of two hundred to three hundred troops

from longkong "ould provide un almost certain assur-

ence against any attack which might be threatened

and that, in the event of serious trouble, the

fritish community could withdraw from the Jhameen

and escape down the river to ongkong.

With regard to the general question of defending

the forein settlements throughout China, i am to

state that, in the view of the secretary of State,

no force short of some thousands of Japanese or other

troops stationed at eac.. port could afford any real

protection against a serious anti-foreign movement

and that he would deprecate making this suggestion.

i am to add that in the opinion of iis „ajesty's

1.epresentative and Consular Officers in China the

contingency of anti-foreign risings is happily

growing more and more remote.

1 am, sir,

Your most obedient,

humble servant,

Signed) W. Langley,

The secretary

to the Army Council.