31
x
1.e.
I attach a copy of a telegram from Tokyo
132 which the Foreign Office have sent over to me.
Sir R. Craigie is apparently of the opinion that it
is possible to save the Kowloon-Canton Railway from
attack if we can convince the Japanese authorities
that the importation of munitions by the Railway
is inconsiderable. The Railway has already been
bombed but the latest telegram from Canton reports
that the damage was slight and was repaired over-
night.
I no the 7.0.
ball and
ampending
Consignments
ith aby rail
!
X
It will be extremely difficult to convince
the Japanese, on the information supplied by the
0.A.G., that the volume of traffic in munitions over
the Railway is inconsiderable. The Japanese will
almost certainly want detailed figures not only for
the past but for the future, and if this is supplied
it may lead to further embarrassing requests for
details of shipments and of particular consignments,
including, possibly, even the time of their departure
from Kowloon. To supply this would obviously be
objectionable, since the Japanese could terminate
the agreement when they wished and would be given an
opportunity to bomb a particular valuable consignment
since they would be supplied with all the information
as to the time of its departure. Moreover, we have
forbidden the use of British rolling stock for the
transport of munitions over the Chinese section and
the Chinese rolling stock would therefore be
particularly liable to attack. If a state of war
existed, it would probably be an unneutral act to
supply this information to the Japanese.
However, the F.0. think that the attempt is
worth making and, after discussion with Mr. Gent, I
attach