CO129-502-8 China- general situation 27-4-1927 - 15-9-1927 — Page 138

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proceed to North China to examine the situation at

Tientsin and Peking:

(a) That the Foreign Office and War Office should

concert together in sending the necessary instructions

to Sir Miles Lampson and General Duncan.

The Secretary of State for War read a telegram

which he had just received from General Duncan, commanding the Shanghai Defence Force, recording conversations with the Japanese General Matsui and with General Butler of the

United States Marine Corps. The latter, who had just

returned from Peking, had emphasized the necessity for

i

withdrawing the Legations in the early future and for

concentrating large forces at Tientsin.

The proposed withdrawal

In regard to the proposed withdrawal of the Indian

of Indian Mixed Brigade, the Cabinet had before them a Memorandum Troops.

'by the Secretary of State for War (Paper C.P.169(27))

giving particulars of the cost of the retention of the

Indian Mixed Brigade, but recommending the withdrawal only

of a Pack Battery.

The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs

reported that he had learned from Tokio that the Japanese Government felt some suspicion that the Shanghai Defence Force was not to be withdrawn. From this point of view