CO129-502-8 China- general situation 27-4-1927 - 15-9-1927 — Page 158

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Minister (to which Sir Austen Chamberlain had referred

at the last Meeting of the Cabinet) he was about to

send a telegram asking a number of questions as to the

Japanese attitude. He did not expect to obtain any

considerable results from these questions, but he wished

to show that General Tanaka's remarks had been taken

seriously.

3ir Austen Chamberlain also mentioned that he had

authorised ka sir Miles Lampson to visit Shanghai in

order to ascertain the situation there.

The Cabinet then discussed the proposed withdrawal

of Mr. Newton, the British Representative with the

Provisional Goverment at Hankow, as suggested by Sir

Miles Lampson (Telegram No.832 of May 7th) the

approval to which (by Telegram No.353 of May 9th) had been

held in suspense by a later telegram (No.356 of Way 9th }

pending consideration by the Cabinet.

In this connection the Cabinet were informed that,

if r. Newton was withdrawn, a channel of communication

with the Hankow Goverment would still exist through the

Consul-General.

Attention was drawn to the statement by the

Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in the House of

Commons on May 9th, and the question was asked as to whether the British Goverment would be precluded