39
Japanese interference with foreign merchant shipping. Faragraph 27, which presses the vital importance to
China of keeping upon the route via Hong Kong may be
noted.
169.
His Majesty's Ambasador at Tokyo used all
possible arguments to try and restrain the Japanese
Government from causing further attacks to be made
on the Canton-Kowloon Railway. Subsequent attacks
With
show that his attempt has not been successful.
regard to the statement that we could have secured
the immunity of the railway by prohibiting the
export of munitions from Hong Kong by the railway
only and not by other routes, it is not quite clear
whether the Ambassador appreciates that the railway
is the only route by which munitions in any consider-
able quantity could reach China from Hong Kong.
170 and 178.
In spite of the Foreign Office arguments
the French Government have maintained their decision
to prohibit the export of arms to China by the
Indo-China railway. They appear extremely nervous
over the danger from Japanese agents and even from
Siam. They appear to desire a general guarantee by
the Powers assembled at Brussels if transitЯby French lines to China of munitions) is to continue.
171 to 174.
Several attacks on the railway which
apparently caused little damage.
175.
The Foreign Office are pressing the Service
Departments to allow munitions to be shipped to
Canton at an early date, even if this involves some
slight