CO129-502-6 China- general situation 7-1-1927 - 3-3-1927 — Page 149

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(a) That the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs

should prepare a document setting forth our policy

in China in clear terms, and that the Cabinet should

then consider what was the best method of communicating

it to the public opinion of this country and the world,

e.g.

by a statement to the League of Nations or by some

other method of publicity.

(b) That the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs

should ascertain the views of the British Minister at

Peking and the Consul-General at Shanghai as to what,

in their opinion, should be done on the arrival or

approach of the troops now under orders in various

alternative contingencies, e.g., no change in the present

situation, either from the military point of view or

that of public order: or, opposition by Sun Chuan Fang

to the landing of the troops at Shanghai; and what the

relations are to be between the forces and the

Municipality of Shanghai, which is international.

(c) That the Secretary of State for War should make

detailed enquiries as to what accommodation could be

made available at Hong Kong Singapore, or other

British ports in the East, in case events should render

it desirable to disembark any of the forces now under

orders for Shanghai before their arrival there:

(a) That the Secretary of State for War should have

authority to allow the transport containing a Battalion

of the Suffolk Regiment from Gibraltar to proceed

direct to Shanghai, in order that the Indian Battalion

already sent there might be balanced by a British

Battalion.

•

(e) That the First Lord of the Admiralty should

ascertain whether it would not be possible for

communication