NO DISTRIBUTION.
Decode and Decypher
Sir R. Craigie, (Tokyo).
D.
(BY BAG)
R.
26th September, 1938.
26th September, 1938.
1st November, 1938.
No. 13.Saving.
0:0:0:0:0
(R begins).
My telegram No. 4 Saving and my despatch No. 639.
Reply dated September 19th states that strict [gp. omtd.]
which has been carried out has established that no vessel of
Imperial Navy had anything to do with any such case.
(R ends).
Subject to your concurrence I propose to reply that
while taking due note of Japanese Government's denial that
any vessel of Imperial Navy was concerned, His Majesty's Government cannot but note that evidence submitted by survivor
is circumstantial and evidently reliable. I hope therefore
that proper Japanese authorities will cause further investiga-
tions to be made and I shall submit claim for compensation in
due course.
Before however going further I should be glad to know whether proper authorities in Hongkong are fully satisfied
as to bona fides of witnesses. For instance is it not
conceivable that these men met their deaths at the hands of
pirates or private enemies and that survivors, with the
idea of securing compensation, are trying to place the blame
on the Japanese?
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 13 Saving September 26th; repeated to Shanghai No. 895 by air mail and Hongkong
44