103
telegrams Nos.272 and 275). Attention was called to the
eastward movements of Russian Soviet troops (Peking
telegram No.271).
On the political side generally the Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs gave the Cabinet a summary of
a long statement he had only just received from the French
Government, couched in friendly terms, but indicating that
in their view fombined action by the Powers was improbable,
that they themselves were only prepared to defend their
concession at Shanghai against mob violence and not against
Chinese troops, and suggesting that the good offices of the
League of Nations should be sought with a view to a
settlement with the Cantonese. From Japan information was
received tending to show that the trouble with Great Britain
had brought North and South China appreciably closer (Tokyo
Telegram No.70).
From Hankow Mr. O'Malley reported (Hankow telegram
No.46) that agreement had been reached in regard to the Han-
kow and Kiukiang concessions, subject to mutual
assurances by Eugene Chen against the use of force against
concessions, but not covering boycotts, etc. (For text see
Peking telegram No.48) and by Mr. O'Malley in regard to the
landing of Britishreinforcements at Shanghai (For text see
Peking telegram No.49).
There was generaly agreement that the agreements
and assurances could be accepted, and the Cabinet then
proceeded to consider whether the Naval Commander-in-Chief
should be instructed, in the event of the signature of these
agreements and assurances, to re-examine his decision to
bring the whole of the Indian Mixed Brigade on to Shanghai.
During this discussion the Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs received and read out Sir Miles Lampson's telegram
No.
Page 90Page 91
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.