M.01183/38.
sir.
Immediate
4
}
26
83th January,
8
With reference to your letter No. F622/19/10, dated
19th January, 1938, I am commanded by My Lords Commissioners
of the Admiralty to inform you that They have no comments
to offer on the draft of the telegram which Mr. Secretary den
proposes to address to His Majesty's Ambassador at Tokyo
in connection with the "Chahsing" incident.
The
2. With regard to paragraph 2 of your letter, I am to atate that while it may not have been necessary to tow the
customs vessel, it is considered unlikely that she could
have been refloated without some outside agency.
"Chahsing" was beached about 11⁄2 hours before high water,
and as the tide rose only about three feet between 0900 and
1600 on the day in question (the ship was beached at 1431),
there is very little likelihood of the vessel having floated
off by reason of tidal action. Moreover, as the position
3.
where the "Chahsing" was beached is well sheltered from the
prevailing wind, it is unlikely that she was blown off shore.
The original enclosures to the despatch dated 17th
December, 1937, from the Governor of Hong Kong, which were
forwarded for Admiralty perusal, are being returned under
separate cover.
4.
office.
A copy of this letter has been sent to the Colonial
The Under Secretary of State,
Foreign Office,
S.W.1.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
Lawson