4.
The objections to the first of these suggestions were set forth in this department's letter
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No. F 242/1/10 of January 28th last. Further objections will be found in Peking telegram No. 39, and Sir Austen Chamberlain considers that the idea is not practicable for the reasons already given.
5.
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As regards suggestion (ii), apart from the appeal to the League, the possible organisation of an international counter-boycott of Canton, though it is likely to encounter great practical difficulties, seems the one active policy which deserves further examination. This matter is being fully examined and a further letter will be addressed to your department at a later date. It will not in any case be an easy task to enlist the active support of the other Powers, some of whom are profiting by the present state of affairs.
6.
The possibility of exerting pressure on Moscow with a view to obtaining the removal of all Bolsheviks
from Kwangtung has also been dealt with in Foreign Office
letter of January 28th, and, as will be seen from Foreign
office telegram to Peking No. 35 of January 29th, the
only weapon available for this purpose would be a threat
to withdraw His Majesty's Mission from Moscow, and it is
doubtful whether even this would prove effective.
is not one that could profitably be adopted.
7.
The idea
The question of actual hostilities with Canton
has not yet arisen, and, in view of its effect both on
this country and on the rest of China, it is clearly most
desirable that it should not arise. Quite apart from the
attitude of the other treaty Powers, it seema highly
problematical whether on balance British interests would
profit by such action.
8./
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