152
24
Telegram from the Secretary of State for the
Colonies to the Governor of the Straits Settlements.
(sent 8.30 p.m, 28th September, 1937.)
No.123.
Following sent at request of the Board of
Trade begins:-
British vessel s.s. "Athanasios" due at
Singapore on October 2nd is proceeding from there
direct to Manila, Tokuyama and Kobe to be sold.
About twenty members of her crew are Hong Kong
Chinese British subjects who will be repatriated at
end of voyage to Hong Kong. They fear that on
arrival in Japanese territory they will be mistaken
for Chinese and interned or otherwise molested.
Please communicate with ship's agents Paterson Simons
and send Government representative on board to inform
crew that the Japanese Government have advised His Majesty's Ambassador at Tokyo that it is extremely
improbable that crew would be detained or otherwise
molested in Japanese territory but that nevertheless they have communicated the facts of the case to the
local authorities.
Ends.