Distribution of Army A.D.Regr.No. 3948-D.
20
No.24902/1 (G.S., S.D.1)
SECRET.
Government of India
ARMY
DEPARTMENT.
i8.71
an30040
New Delhi, the 5th April 1928.
To the Secretary, Military Department,
India Office, London.
Sir,
LONG KUNG.
I am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No.
M.8134/1927, dated the 20th December 1927, forwarding a
memorandum, with enclosure, received from the Colonial Office,
on the subject of the future garrison of Hong Kong.
2. The Government of India note that there is a possibility
of the Indian Infantry battalion being withdrawn from Hong
Kong, but they feel bound to comment on the statement
(contained in paragraph 6 (a) of the enclosure referred to)
that "the Government of India is reluctant to allow Indian
troops to be employed in China". The correct position is
that in March 1921 the Government of India accepted a
Resolution, among certain others that were moved in the
Legislative Assembly on the subject of the recommendations
made by the Esher Committee, to the effect that "the Army in
India should not, as a rule, be employed for service outside
the external frontiers of India, except for purely
defensive purposes, or with the previous consent of the
Governor-General in Council in very grave emergencies,
provided that this Resolution does not preclude the
employment on garrison duties overseas of Indian troops at the expense of His Majesty's Government and with the consent
of the Government of India". It is true that objections
were raised in the Legislature when the Indian contingent of
the Shanghai defence force was sent to China in 1927, but so
far as the Government of India are concerned, they are
willing to retain the Indian Infantry battalion at Hong
Kong and also the Hong Kong Tule Corps so long as they are
required by His Majesty's Government.
am etc.
G.R. Tottenham
(s)
Depy. Secy. to the Govt. of India
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