DRAFT TELEGRAM.
SECRET
Addressed:
Commander-in-Chief, China.
Repeated : Commodore, Hong Kong.
Your 2009/12.
Chah-Sing incident.
Foreign
140
office are repeating to you text of protest to be made at
Tokyo.
It has not been possible to accept suggestion
that maritime customs vessels should be excluded from
British territorial waters, because such action would
seriously handicap them in carrying out their customs duties.
As you are aware, H.M. Government are gravely concerned
over the future of maritime customs, and do not wish to
take any action which might prejudice their working.
In spite of the fact that they are armed public
vessels, customs vessels can be distinguished from warships
on the ground that they have no commission entitling them
to take offensive action against an enemy.
for Head of M.