CO129-502-6 China- general situation 7-1-1927 - 3-3-1927 — Page 182

200

(This Document is the Property of His Britannic

Majesty's Government.)

GOPT NO.

10

SECRET

C.0.S.-50.

(Also C.I.D.

Faper No 759-

COMMITTEE OF IMPERIAL DEFENCE.

CHIEFS OF STAFF SUB-COMMITTEE.

THE SITUATION AT CANTON, JANUARY 1927.

Report by the Chiefs of Staff.

The Chiefs of Staff Committee were directed by

the Prime Minister to meet to consider the telegram

from the General Officer Commanding Hong-Kong to the

War Office, No.1279, dated January 13, 1927 (Appendix I)

in which is raised the question of the evacuation of

Shameen. We met at short notice on the afternoon of

Friday, January 14th. Sir Victor Wellesley, of the

Foreign Office, was present for the whole, and Sir

Gilbert Grindle and Mr Clutterbuck of the Colonial

Office for a part of our meeting.

2. Sir Victor Wellesley brought to our attention

Appendix II) telegram No.5/ from the Acting British Consul-General,

Canton, dated January 13, 1927, which is closely

connected with the telegram from the General Officer

Commanding reformed to above, and which we have

therefore also taken into consideration.

grams raise the issue of whether, in the circumstances

now prevailing, the British and French Concessions

These tels-

in Shameen and Canton are to be evacuated or held,