CO129-437 - Public Offices - 1916 — Page 509

r tu..

$880#

*

نیا

109

•

>

hclosure in Mr. Jamieson's to Peking No. 109 of July 6th, 1916,

Consul-General, Canton, to Minister.

bogies to Peking &

Governor, long-

kong).

H. B. M. Consulate-General,

Canton,

sir,

507

July 8th, 1916,

I have the honour to inform you that I yesterday sent to vir Henry Hay a paraphrase of a telegram from His Majesty's Minister giving me the viewa of the Army Council on the subject of the despatch of a military detachment to hameen in case of necessity, and I have no doubt that you have received advices in the same

genes.

Stress is therein laid on evacuation of the island should it be found impossible to hold it, but previous experience of a similar nature inclines me to the opinion that the island never will be attacked if it is know that it is in a position to defend itself, caly in the event of its being at ble mercy of a mob is this contin- gency likely to arise,

It would be solely on the ground of creating a mor- al effect, therefore, that I should apply for assistance, and I venture to hope that you will concur with me in the view that the despatch of troops does not connate immed- iate evacuation. Otherwise one might find oneself in the somewhat humiliating position of calling upon British subjects to leave a British Concession which possibly our French neighbours and neutrals would refuse to abandon. The presence of troops should in fact constitute a mort

of

| Meral Officer Commanding,

China Command,

KONGKONG.