ما
5
Enclosure to 9.
The reply which has now been sent to
the Japanese Government in answer to their
requests
(1) that vessels crossing the area to the
south of the mouth of the Canton River should as
اسية
far as possible take the route close to Gap Rock
Lighthouse;
(2) that British junks should carry
distinguishing marks;
is that British shipping will be advised to
comply with the first request but that H.M.G.
cannot consider the second.
The reply originally intended,
with which we concurred, was a refusal of both
requests. It was then considered that the first
could only be justified on purely navigational
grounds and this is the reason now given for
acceptance. The issue of this advice is not
regarded as entitling the Japanese to interfere
with British ships beyond the procedure already
agreed. Frankly this seems to me a sort of
arrangement likely to lead to a series of
awkward incidents, but the decision has been
taken and we can do nothing now.
The F.0. asked for information as to
the amount of British shipping involved. I
submit draft for conson.
P. RageD
12/5.
I spoke to M
Henduson with
the object of finding out excublay
What
was we and by A.
The result is the amended words.