CO129-438 - Public Offices - 1916 — Page 340

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COPY OF LETTER.

No. 1096/F.

Foreign Office.

adiate

sir,

334

11th. January 1916.

I am directed by Secretary Sir E. Grey to inform you, with

reference to War Office letter 083/4942. (M.0.3.), of January

2nd, that in his opinion which has been confirmed by a telegram

from His Majesty's Minister at Poking the chances of an anti-

foreign outbreak at Canton are most remote, that the presence

hundred on the Shameen of two hundred to three troops from Hong Kong

would provide an almost certain assurance against any attack

which might be threatened and that, in the event of serious

trouble, the British community could be withdraw from the

Shameen and areane down the river to Hong Kong.

With regard to the general quaction of defending the

foreign settlements throughout China, I am to state that, in

the view of the fecretary of State, no force short of some

thousands of Japanese or other troops stationed at each 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 Biɛ Kajesty's Represent-

ative and Consular Officers in China the contingency of anti-

foreign risings is happily growing more and more remote.

I am,

sir,

Your most obedient,

humble ervant

(fd.) W. Langley.

fe Secretari",

to the Army Council.

F