CO129-502-8 China- general situation 27-4-1927 - 15-9-1927 — Page 203

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place almost daily at practically every Yangtse port

forcibly resisted. If we did that -- as we are not

only justified but now in a position to do such

encroachments would quickly cease and our whole

position in China would be immediately improved. Our

prestige would at once rise one hundred per cent".

They

The Cabinet felt that, on political grounds, the

case for re-occupying the Concession at Hankow had proved

on investigation to be weaker than they had expected.

were impressed by the fact that the operation was not only

not likely to be welcomed by the Powers who had participated

in the Nanking Note, but that it did not receive whole-

hearted support from all British official representatives

in China. While accepting the view of the Committee of

Chiefs of Staff that the original and more limited plan

is a feasible military operation, it was commented that

proposals had already been made to extend its scope and

that the extent of the ultimate military liability could

not be gauged. In these circumstances the Cabinet agreed

(a)

That neither the re-occupation of the Eritish

Concession at Hanow nor the destruction of the

Hany ang Arsenal should be undertaken at present:

(b) That, in the absence of any acceptable sanctions,

it would be undesirable to co-operate in any further

Note by four Powers only to the Nationalist Goverment

at Hankow:

(c)