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The reported intention of the French
to hold their concession to the last is a new
factor.
The Foreign Office are rather
doubtful as to the accuracy of this report,
and are in communication with the French
Government on the subject. In regard to this
matter we can only point out the great
importance of concerting our arrangements with
the French, both between the Governments and the local authorities concerned.
7. In dealing with the actual proposals of the
Acting Consul-General and the local Naval and
Vilitary authorities, we base our recommendations
9
on the assumption that the policy of His Majesty's Government is to avoid any action which might precipitate hostilities with the Chinese military forces and so unite the whole of China in a war
against us, but that at the same time British interests, wherever situated in China, must be
protected up to the point where further resistance will inevitably result in open hostilities with Chinese troops.
3. We feel that the threat which the Acting Consul--General proposes to make to the local Chinese General-in-Command at Canton, if translated into action, would be calculated to precipitate hostilities and might hasten the crisis at Shanghai which it is desired to avert or in any case to
postpone as long as possible. In these circumstances
we think that the threat should not be made.
9. The report that it would be possible to keep
open communication between Hong-Kong and Shareen
at any time of the year by alternative routes which avoid the necessity of forcing the defended main river channel is of considerable importance, insomuch
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