CO129-497 - Public Offices - 1926 — Page 300

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F.O.

Tel. No.-Vict. 9400.

farther communication on this Bert should be addressed to:- The Cnder-Secretary of State,

The War Office,

London, 8.W. 1, the following number quoted.

(M.0.1.)

/5521

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295

THE WAR OFFICE,

LONDON, S.W.1.

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29. 4967

Sir,

SARILLO

DECRET.

March, 1926.

I am commanded by the Army Council to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. C/3026/1926, dated 16th February, 1926, enclosing suggestions from the Governor of Hong Kong for certain courses of action to meet the situation at Canton.

2.

The Council consider that it is difficult to see how the proposal to blockade the Port of Canton could be carried out without incurring a military commitment, which it is most desirable to avoid. If the blockade were carried out, we must be prepared for an attack on Shameen, unless it is decided to evacuate that place concurrently with the establishment of a blockade of the Port. Behind the strikers are 9,000 Russian-trained and Russian-led cadets. These would be sufficient to man the Bocca Tigris Forts and, at the same time, attack Shameen. It seems then that we might well be committed to a combined operation for the relief of Shameen, necessitating the employment of considerable military forces which, as far as we are concerned, could be provided only by the despatch of troops from India or England.

3.

The Council's views regarding separate military action in China were given in the Joint Note of the Staffs quoted in paras. 15 17 of the Report of the Chiefs of the Staff Sub-Committee (C.I.D. Paper 617-8). To these views they still adhere.

4.

A copy of this letter has been forwarded to the Admiralty and the Air Ministry.

I am

sir,

Incer-Secretary of State, Colonial Office,

Downing Street,

S.W.1.

Your obedient Servant,

ArWordions

Formanent Under-Secretary of State,

20

Subse

3

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