Copy.
(F 2474/6896/10).
No. 438(304/70/38).
Copy to Hong Kong.
British Embassy,
Tokyo.
8th July, 1938.
My Lord,
31
Fith reference to Your Lordship'e telegram No. 453
of the 4th July last, I have the honour to transmit to Your
Lordship herewith a copy of the note which I have today
addressed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs regarding the
alleged attack on Hong Kong fishing Junk No. 291 H.*. which
formed the subject of the despatch K/8/0:PVC which His
Excellency the Governor of Hong Kong addressed to the
ecretary of State for the Colonies on the 18th May last.
2. When I first brought this matter informally to the
notice of the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs on the 17th
June, I spoke very strongly of the in-ortance of putting an
immediate stop to such enormities, which were definitely
damaging to Japan's good name. I cannot help feeling,
however, that it is preferable to proceed with some little
caution when addressing to the Japanese Government an official
note rezarding a case which rests exclusively on the
unsubstantiated evidence of Chinese, whose capacity for
exageration is well known. I have therefore thought it
better to withhold the use of the word "protest", at least
until there has been an opportunity to consider the Japanese
reply.
I have eto.,
(Signed) R.I. Craigie.
The Fight Honourable
The Viscount Halifax, K.0.. 0.0.2.I., 0.0.1.E.
etc.
etc.,
etc.