CO129-502-6 China- general situation 7-1-1927 - 3-3-1927 — Page 91

104

No.275 of February 10th, pointing out that the approach

to Shanghai of the Defence Force was bringing some members

of the Canton Government to their senses, endorsing the

deci sion of the Naval Commander-in-Chief to bring the Indian

Brigade forthwith to Shanghai; and reporting that Sun

Chuan-fang's position was unstable. This telegram was felt

to render unnecessary any further telegram to the Naval

Commander-in-Chief in regard to the Shanghai Defence Force.

The Cabinet agreed

--

(a) That the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs

should authorise Mr. O'Malley to accept Chen's

written assurance for the future and to sign the

Hankow and Kiukiang concession agreements, including

the written assurance by Mr. O'Malley to the effect

that the British authorities concerned will do all

in their power to implement and secure the

successful operation of the agreements, and that

Chinese citizens should enjoy equal rights with

British subjects in these areas (see Mr. O'Malley's

telegram No.47). As regards the Shanghai Defence

Force Mr. O'Malley should be told to make clear that

the troops were to be used only for protection and

in sufficient numbers to secure this; that the

troops would be stationed within the settlement and

would not be moved outside except in case of grave

emergency; and that His Majesty's Government will

continue to maintain strict neutrality in the

(b)

civil war in China (for details see Appendix).

That the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs

should inform the House of Commons of the present

position in the negotiations and of the tenor of the

reply summarised in (a). He should also inform the

House that the Naval Commander-in-Chief had deemed

it necessary to bring the Indian Mixed Brigade to

Shanghai, but that the remainder of the Shanghai