232
no reinforcements of the troops in Hong-Kong
should take place, although the General Staff were
asked to enquire into the cost of accommodation.
(See inutes of 202nd Leeting, held on July 22nd,
1925).
3. In March 1926, in again reviewing the situation
in China in the light of the disturbed conditions
which then existed at Canton, we invited attention
to the provisions of our earlier Report quoted
above. (C.I.D. Paper 677-B).
4.
Since that time, considerable naval reinforcements
have been sent to the China Station, including the aircraft carrier "Hermes", but the new gun-boats
will not be ready before the autumn.
On the 15th December, 1926, it was decided to send
a military reinforcement of one British battalion
from Gibraltar, which is due to arrive on the
4th February. In the meantime, the Indian
battalion at Hong-Kong is held ready at short
notice to proceed to Shanghai and may leave at any moment.
The Presert Situation.
5. In the last few months the situation has
very much deteriorated.
The further and serious
disturbances which we apprehended in June, 1925,
have arisen. The Nationalist Government, working
to a considerable extent under Bolshevist influence,
has obtained control of the greater part of China
south of the Yangtse. Two of the British
Concessions on the Yangtse (Hankow and Kiukiang)
have been evacuated.
in the near future.
Shanghai is menaced
3.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.