CO129-502-8 China- general situation 27-4-1927 - 15-9-1927 — Page 134

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SUGGESTED GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING IN-CHIEF IN CHINA.

The health of the troops would benefit by rest

and change.

Sir William Tyrrell stated that the

Foreign Office could raise no objection to this. No objection to the proposal was raised.

3. Sir L.Worthington-Evans referred to a

proposal by the Naval Commander-in-Chief for the appointment of a General Officer Commanding-

in-Chief all the British forces in China. He

thought it unnecessary to send out a Lieutenant-

General and a new staff, and proposed to make

General Duncan, who was at present in command

of the Shanghai Defence Force only, responsible

for all the British military forces in China,

including the North China Command. Admiral

Trywhitt was senior to him and would remain so.

Lord Beatty said that this would meet

Admiral Tyrwhitt's views, and explained that the

latter's proposal was dictated solely by a

desire to intimate that of His Majesty's Government

thought of sending out a military officer senior

to him he would gladly serve under him.

Mr. Amery suggested that General

Duncan's Command should not include the forces at

Hong Kong, and Sir Worthington-Evans agreed.

2, Whitehall Gardens, S.W.1.

June 16, 1927.

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