893.0146/618
The British Embassy to the Department of State
It is the intention of the British Government to withdraw one British battalion from Shanghai at the end of January and the British military authorities there consider that the two remaining battalions will be enough to man those portions of the defense perimeter allotted to the British.
The British Government understands that the U. S. Marines of emergency reenforcements are likely to leave on or about the 15th of February. The British Government would be glad to know whether the United States Government have any objection to their not replacing the one British battalion which is to be withdrawn and what are the intentions of the United States Government as regards the reduction of their own military forces at Shanghai.
A similar inquiry is being made of the French Government.