[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be returned
to the Foreign Office if not required for official use.]
185
From JAPAN.
Decode.
Sir R. Craigie, (Tokyo).
4th October, 1937.
D.
7.30 p.m.
4th October, 1937.
R.
12.40 P.in.
4th October, 1937,
No. 482.
(R).
0:0:0:0
83
Nichi Nichi of October 2nd accuses Great Britain of taking
the lead in international assistance to China both political
and economic. Reuter deliberately exaggerates Chinese reports
and British press deliberately injures Japan,
While other powers are negative Great Britain and U.S..R.
are pouring arms into China. Hongkong has become clearing
house for arms traffic.
Chinese Government.
Mr. Howe acts as representative of
It is alleged that (1) Mr. Howe on his return to China held secret interviews at Hongkong to discuss armament supplies;
(2) all east bound ships carrying arms to China between August 31,and september 19 were bound for Hongkong and half were British; (3) aeroplanes, large quantities of bombs, shells
and tear gas bombs, all British made, were landed at Hongkong;
(4) contracts include 45,000,000 million rounds of dum-dum
bullets. Hongkong authorities are conniving at this traffic,
Addressed to Foreign Office No. 482; repeated to Hongkong.