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"R" Decode.
12
Telegram from the Governor of Hong kong to the Secretary of
State for the Colonies.
Bated 19th.April 1939,
Received 10.56 a.m. 19th.April
2
No.130.
Addressed to the Secretary of State for the Colonies
telegram No.130 of the 19th.April repeated to Tokyo telegram
No.40, Shanghai telegram No.55, Canton telegram No. 48.
My telegram No.116.
Release of disabled Chinese interned soldiers.
Consul General Canton who had approached the
Japanese Consul Generel semi-officially has been informed that
the Japanese Authorities are unwilling to agree to the release.
Answer continues as folloWS begins.
"Question whether
they might later be able to bear arms against the Japanese did
?
not enter into this decision which had (been) arrived at in
view of cases in North and Central China where Chinese
ex-soldiers have on release and return to their native places immediately engaged in anti-Japanese activities such as
propaganda
ends.
Reason given is obviously insincerc.
Is there any
objection to my requesting the British Ambassador at Tokyo to
press the point? Number of men concerned would be about
seventy four,
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