CO129-502-6 China- general situation 7-1-1927 - 3-3-1927 — Page 154

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recognised, however, that any calling out of reservists

would be regarded by the public a very serious. The

possibility was discussed of giving orders for the British

troops to proceed, in the first instance, to India, or

Singapore, or Hong Kong, but this course did not commend

itself to the Cabinet.

After full consideration, the Cabinet agreed

(u) That if the telegram from Tokyo should show

unistakably that the Japanese have no serious

intention of co-operating with military forces in the

defende of Shanghai, the whole of the dispositions

decided on by the Cabinet on January 17th (Cabinet 2

(27), Conclusion 2), should be carried out:

(0) That if by 8.p.m. the same evening no reply had

been received from Tokyo, the whole of the above

di spositions should be carried out with the exception

of the issue of final notices to Class A. Reservists,

which should be suspended until a further decision was

taken.

(c) That if the telegram from Tokyo should show that

the Japanese are prepared to co-operate, or should be

indefinite, authority should be given to the Foreign

Secretary and such Ministers as might be within reach

of London during the next few days to take a decision

on behalf of the Cabinet as to what modificatione (if

any) should be made in the previous military

dispositions;

(a) To take note of the instructions sent to Canton

on the recommendation of the Committee of Chiefs of

Staff (No.49 to Peking, repeated to Canton):

(e) To take note that the Secretary of State for War

was