Encl. No. 1.
2 -
I enclose copies of correspondence as under
regarding the visits of the "Saga" to Hong Kong which
appeared to be of a routine character.
Visit of June
24th-26th.
Visit of July
24th
-
27th.
Visit of August
21st
-
24th.
-
27th.
Visit of September 24th
Postponement of September visit.
Visit of September 29th.
Visit of November 9th
-
11th.
Encl.No.2.
4.
The visit of the 29th of September, occurring as it did a day or two after the outbreak of the local disturbances, evidently led to the currency of rumours which were dealt with by the Consul General for Japan in an interview granted to a representative of the "South China Morning Post". A copy of the newspaper report of this
interview is enclosed.
5.
It is clear from the Consul-General's statement
in the Press that the visit of the "Saga" had no ostensible connection with the anti-Japanese disturbances and her visits here are so frequent as ordinarily to occasion no remark. It is of course impossible for this Government to know whether there was any ulterior motive behind the visit of the "Saga" to Hong Kong on the 29th of September but if there was any such motive the Japanese Government was at considerable pains to conceal it from the Government and people of this Colony. After the publication of the Consul-General's statement the visit of the "Saga" failed to
evoke
13