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5.
ordinary course be involved in giving armed protection to any foreign
nationals in China (Peking telegram No.249). But Sir J.Tilley
(Tokyo) considered the detention of troops at Hong Kong desirable
(No.74).
(iv) A reasonably satisfactory reply had been received from the
Consul-General at Shanghai to questions as to the attitude of the
foreign Consular Body and Municipality at Shanghai towards the
landing of British troops (Foreign Office telegram to Peking No.
108), and it was stated that up to date the presence of an Indian
Battalion had proved a steadying rather than a provocative factor
(Shanghai telegram No.30).
(v) Among recent telegrams bearing on the military situation
were, Tokyo No.69, of February 5th, stating that the Japanese
General Staff anticipate the early fall of Hang chow, and Peking
No.251, forwarding from Tsi-man-fu an account of a conversation with
Chang Tsung Chang, who had stated that Sun had been defeated at
Chekiang, that his own troops were concentrated at Pukow, and that
they would have to cross the Yangtse to keep the Cantonese out
of Shanghai owing to Sun's defeat. In this connection attention was
drawn to an earlier telegram (No.25 of February 1st) from Mr. O'Malley (Hankow) forwarding a quotation from Eugene Chen's mani-
festo of January 22nd, where it was stated that it is not and never
has been within the contemplation of the Nationalist Government to
occupy Shanghai by force. Opinions of the Japanese General Staff
were quoted to the same effect.
During the after session of the Cabinet, the Chief of the
Imperial General Staff attended (from 3.15 p.m. to 3.30 p.m.) and, in reply toquestions, gave information which may be summarised as
follows:-
The Japanese General Staff, who have senior officers with
Sun and at Shanghai, anticipate a Cantonese success in that
region.
As regards the strength of the relative forces of Sun
Chuan-fang and the Cantonese respectively, the information is very conflicting. Thus, a Japanese report estimated Sun's forces at
26,000
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