In any further communication
s subject, please quote
No. F 10552/130/10
and address-
not to any person by name
but to-
"The Under-Secretary of State,"
Foreign Office,
London, S.W.1.
Sir,
Дер
a
FOREIGN OFFICE.
S.W.1.
31st December, 1937.
0.0. REC.
36
761
I am directed by Mr. Secretary Eden to refer to
Colonial Office letter No.53838/10/37 of the 6th December
regarding the sinking of certain fishing, junks by a Japanese
Seft war vessel off Hong Kong on the 22nd December, and to enclose
herein the draft of a telegram which he proposes, subject to
the concurrence of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, to
address to His Majesty's Ambassador at Tokyo in this connexion.
2.
It will be observed that it is proposed to instruct
Sir Robert Craigie to reserve on behalf of His Majesty's
Government the right to claim full compensation for damage,
suffering and loss of life caused to the British subjects
involved. It may be that the persons involved will themselves
request His Majesty's Government to present such a claim, but
even if they do not, in Mr. Eden's view, it is for consideration
whether His Majesty's Government should not formulate one on
their behalf.
In view however of the long delay which would
presumably be involved in establishing the nationality of each
of the victims, he considers that it will be sufficient at this
stage to reserve His Majesty's Government's rights in the
manner indicated in the draft.
Meanwhile Mr. Secretary Ormsby
Gore will no doubt cause such steps to be taken as he deems
The Under-Secretary of State,
Colonial Office.
advisable /