[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be
returned to the Foreign Office if not required for official use.
a.]
CHINA.
Cypher telegram to Sir M. Lampson (Peking)
Foreign Office, 26th April 1927, 11.00 p.m.
No. 326.
2
232
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IMMEDIATE
SECRET.
1. It is now clear that we cannot count on the active collaboration or support of the United States government in prosecuting our demands for satisfaction for the
Nanking outrages. The United States government are not prepared to agree to or even to discuss any form of sanction and decline to send any reply to Mr. Chen's notes of April 14th.
2.
The attitude of Japan is still uncertain as a result no doubt of the change of government and of the preoccupation of the new government with the financial crisis but it seems unlikely that it will differ much from that of the last government.
3. Chiang Kai-shek's position is more difficult to determine, He has acted with vigour against the extremists and so has somewhat relieved the tension at Shanghai and Canton and even somewhat improved the situation at Nanking. It would appear therefore unwise to do anything to antagonise or weaken him but it is too early yet to found a policy upon his final success or even upon his goodwill if successful,
4 The various sanctions which have been suggested would appear to me either impracticable or ineffective or likely to injure innocent parties or the less
hostile/
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