FO371-23523 — Page 27

Page 27

——

SPECIAL DISTRIBUTION AND WAR CABINET.

From JAPAN.

F11783 341 12 NOV 1979

Decypher. Sir R. Craigie (Tokyo).

11th November, 1939.

D. 4.50 a.m.

11th November, 1939.

R. 12.15 p.m.

11th November, 1939.

No. 1475.

IMPORTANT.

Following is text of statement for press to be issued by

12 noon November 13th begins:

British Ambassador notified Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs

this morning on instructions from British Government that it is the

intention of British Government, in accordance with requirements of

European situation, to affect [sic.] a temporary modification in

the composition of effectives which are maintained in Tientsin and

Peking, in accordance with British rights under the Boxer protocol.

As a result a portion of British forces in Tientsin and Peking

will be withdrawn, but a company with certain additional details will

be left at Tientsin with one of its platoons stationed at Peking.

A similar notification is being made to the other interested

Governments.

Ends.

The oral statement which I propose to leave with the Vice

Minister for Foreign Affairs will have the same text with the

necessary formal modifications.

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 1475 November 11th;

repeated to Shanghai telegram No. 1136 (Shanghai repeat to Chungking telegram No. 9 and Tientsin telegram No. 332) Hongkong telegram No. 228 Commander-in-Chief telegram No. 208 (Hongkong repeat to

NOV Commander-in-Chief).

1080

Page 27

F.O. REGISTRY.

Page 27

Page 27

Page 27