Page 53
Page 53
Any further communication
should be addressed to:-
Secretary of the Admiralty,
London, S.W.1.
F11918
quoting * M.010963/39 of the OV outside of the envelope as well as in the text.
Sir,
15
BLED
IMMEDIATE
Admiralty, S.W.1.
16th November, .1939.
In reply to your letter of the 8th instant,
F.11376/3918/10, I am commanded by My Lords Commissioners of
the Admiralty to express their entire agreement with Lord
Halifax's views as to the disposal of the Gunboats which
remain in Chinese waters.
My Lords propose immediately to issue instructions
that the three Gunboats in Japanese controlled waters on the
Yangtse are to be withdrawn at an early date. In consideration
of Admiral Oikawa's request for the immediate withdrawal of
the Gunboat at Hankow, they propose to inform the Commander-in-
Chief that H.M.S.PETEREL (at Hankow) should be the first to
be
The Rear Admiral, Yangtse will be advised to
reply to Admiral Oikawa in the terms proposed at (b) in
withdrawn.
paragraph 3 of your letter.
My Lords propose further to inform the Commander-in-
Chief that it is the intention that the Gunboats still
remaining at Shanghai should be withdrawn later as is found
convenient, but that at least one should be retained at
Shanghai and one at Canton for as long a period as possible.
The Commander-in-Chief will also be informed that the three
Gunboats above Hankow in Chinese controlled waters are to
remain.
I am to enquire whether Lord Halifax desires any
special directions to be given to the Commander-in-Chief in
regard to the communication of the decision to withdraw the
three Gunboats from Japanese controlled waters.
The Under-Secretary of State,
Foreign Office,
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
SAPhillip
DMG
S.W.1.
Page 53
Page 53
Page 53