4
that, although the Anglo-French Convention of Commerce
and Navigation of 1926 might have been invoked, the length
of time during which French vessels had apparently been
enjoying preferential treatment rendered it inadvisable
to take the matter up with the French Government.
4.
I am to enquire whether the fact of other governments
having protested would cause the Board to modify their
previous opinion. No confirmation of the protest stated to
have been made in Paris by the Netherlands Government has
been received, but enquiry could, if necessary, be made
through His Majesty's Minister at The Hague, whilst His
Majesty's Ambassador at Tokyo, if desired, could be instructed
to enquire whether the Japanese Government have made or are
No fresh pro- proposing to make similar representations.
tests, however, have been received in this department from
British shipping companies, and Sir Austen Chamberlain
would prefer at present not to make this matter the subject
of a formal protest to the French Government unless the
Board see strong grounds for doing so.
I am &c.,
(Signed) G. H. VILLIERS.