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having been committed in the immediate vicinity of
Canton. We considered, therefore, that if he did not
reply on the 19th May the only possible inference was
that he did not mean to comply and in such circumstances
the shorter the time-limit the better. Moreover,
rapidity and surprise were of great importance in
connection with the sanctions we considered essential.
We concluded, therefore, that if General Li did not
comply on the 19th May, Mr. Brenan should on that day
present an ultimatum requiring compliance within 24
hours, failing which the Bogue Forts should be captured
at dawn on the 21st May and the Dane Island Defences
as soon as possible thereafter. I telegraphed in this
sense to the Naval Commander-in-Chief, Sir R.Y.Tyrwhitt,
on the 18th May.
11.****
Meanwhile, as a menacing gesture, H.M.S. Dauntless" proceeded to Canton on the 19th May and anchored near Dane Island, and on the same day a
demonstration was made over the Dane Island Defences,
at the scene of the attack on s.s. "Lungshan", by a flight of seven British seaplanes.
12. On the 19th May Sir R. Tyrwhitt replied to my telegram of the preceding day that, personally, he
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considered the firing of a few rifles at a local steamer as an act of undisciplined soldiers, which could only be dealt with summarily: that he considered the punishment proposed to be far in excess of the gravity of the crime; that it could mean nothing else than a
declaration of war on China, and that it was doubtful whether His Majesty's Government would support me. He added that he was reporting my proposal with his own remarks, as above, to the Admiralty.
13.
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