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SECRET.
FROM: C.in C. China.
F 2276
MAR 1939
157
7
MESSAGE
IN.
DATE:
1.3.39.
RECD: 1440.
Interdepartmental Cypher.
ADDRESSED: Admiralty repeated Captain on the Staff H.M.S.
TAMAR, Commodore Hong Kong, H.M.Ambassador,
Shanghai, H.M. Ambassador, Tokyo, Consul General Canton.
73. H.M.S. TFNFDOS visited Hofhow February 20th to
Commanding Officer visited Naval Headquarters
February 21st.
where Triumvirate of Naval and Military Officers, and Consul
ex Canton are responsible for conducting affairs.
very cordially received and informed that at present port
was closed to shipping until military operations could be
completed which it was hoped would be shortly.
asked that assurances should be conveyed to me that port
would be opened as soon as possible and that navigation
"Not the same as Canton".
He was
Consul
Furopeans comprise 38 Americans 20 French and 7 British Customs all the latter being British Gensular Officers. They were
well and stressed the fact that Japanese had been extremely
careful not to interfere with them in anyway.
Occupation of Hoihow was locally unexpected, and bloodless
(corrupt group) partly on both sides.
artly
Estimated troops
landed between five and ten thousand, and considerably less
Samarcand
in the south near orrupt group) Bay.
Apparently
Japanese intend to occupy the area with a radius of about
forty miles of Hoihow and much smaller area in the south
and that penetration will not at present be attempted.
It is not my intention to notify shipping officially
that Hoihow is closed. I hope if ships continue to call
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its
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