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6
7
consider that the Japanese should be mainly responsible for the protec- tion of British interests there. The British Minister should withdraw the Legation and British interests from Peking, if threatened by forces beyond the power of the Legation guards to resist.
(9.) Broadly we recommend that the British should be the predominant partner on the Yangtse and in South China, and the Japanese in North China, the available forces of all co-operating Powers being placed at the disposal of the predominant partner.
(10.) At the present juncture we wish to repeat and emphasise the insistence we laid in previous Reports on the importance of international as opposed to separate British action in China, if by any means effective co-opera- tion can be organised.
(Signed)
BEATTY.
APPENDIX (A).
DISPOSITION OF BRITISH AND FOREIGN WAR VESSELS IN RIVER YANGTSE.
From Reports received up to 5 P.M., March 28, 1927.
2. Whitehall Gardens, S.WF. 1,
March 29, 1927.
G. F. MILNE.
H. TRENCHARD.
Supplement to the Chiefs of Staff Report on the Situation in China of March 29, 1927 (C.I.D. Paper No. 784-B).
RECENT telegrams from China indicate increasing determination on the part of the Cantonese Authorities and the forces under their command to take steps to enforce their will on the Yangtse and oppose with force the free movement of ships up and down the river.
Guns are being mounted to cover the anchorage at Nanking.
A gun on Lion Hill at Nanking is kept trained on ships under weigh, Ships on passage up and down the river report being fired on by guns of small calibre, machine guns and rifles.
Mines are being reported as being conveyed up the river in a Chinese gunboat. The situation is likely to be aggravated by delay in taking definite action. Each day of further delay will render more difficult the carrying out of the plans put forward in the Report.
March 31, 1927.
(Signed)
BEATTY.
H. TRENCHARD.
British.
United States.
Italian.
Japanese.
French
Changsha
•
Woodcock (G.)
Chinkiang.. Wivern (T.B.D.)
Chunking.. Mantis (G.)
Teal (G.)
Palos (G.)
Nil
Hira (G.)
Nil
Nil
Nil
Isokaze (T.B.D.)
Monocacy (G.)
Nil
Hodzu (G.)
Nil
Doudart de
Hankow
Pruitt (T.B.D.) Villalobos (G.) Pigeon (6.)
INC
Nil
Urakaze (T.B.D.)
Lagree (G.)
N
Saga (G)
Ichang
Verity (T.B.D.) Wishar (T B.D.) Woolston
(T.B.D.)
Magnolia (Sloop) Bee (G.) (Flag) Kiawo (Aux.)
Gnat (G.)
Elcano (G.)
Nil
Seta (G.)
Sil
Kiukiang
Wild Swan
(T.B.D.)
Hulbert (T.B.D.)
Nil
Yanagi (T.B.D.) Balny (G.)
Woodlark (G.)
Nanking
Emerald (C.) Wolsey (T.B.D.)
Isabel (Yacht)
Nil
Tenryu (C.)
Nil
(Flag)
Hinoki (T.B.D.) Hamakaze
(T.B.D.)'
Ningpo
Keppel
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Shanghai
(Flot. Ldr.)
Ilawkins (C.)
Carlisle (C.) Dauntless (C.)
(Flag)
Vindictive ((.) Scarab (G.) Cricket (G.)
Libia (C.) (8.0.) (Flag) Muggia (T.B.D.)|
S. Caboto (G.)
Pittsburg (
Sicard (T.B.D.) Ashville (G.) Penguin (G.) Sacramento (G.) Pecos (Viler) Chaumont (Tpt.)
Tone (C.) (Flag) Iaudzu (C.) Sendai (C.) Tokitsukaze
(T.B.D.)
Sumida (G.) Fushimi (G.)
Toba (G.)
Ataka (G.)
Jules Michelet
La Grandiere (G.) Marie (Des. Val.)
(C.) (Flag)
*Note by the Secretary. The Chief of the Imperial General Staff was away, and it was impossible to obtain his signature as the Report had to be submitted to the Cabinet for consideration at 6 P.M.
March 31, 1927.
(Initialled)
M. P. A. H.
Netherlands.
Sumatra (C.)
Portuguese.
Republica (Sloup).
Spanish.
Blas de Lezo (C).
British.
United States.
Italian.
Japanese.
French.
Shasi
Wuhu
Wanhsien
Wusung
...Cockchafer (G.) Caradoc (C.)
Widgeon (G.)
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Kashi (T.B.D.)
Nil
Durban (C.)
Nil
Nil
Nil
Nil
Argus (Air)
132
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