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NO DISTRIBUTION
Decypher.
Sir R. Craigie (Tokyo)
24th September 1938.
D.
1.15 p.m.
R. 9.30 a.m.
24th September 1938.
24th September 1938.
No.1124
mmmmramjam
38
Your telegram No.629.
I have explained in despatch which left by bag on September 22 that I would regard publication under present circumstances as most
inadvisable.
I have now received reply dated September 19th to my note of August 15th (my despatch No.627) of which text is summarised in my immediately following telegram. You will see that there is no prospect of the Japanese admitting responsibility but a chance of obtaining some compensation. Publication would destroy this chance.
Story is now a year old and atrocities at sea have not been reported in recent months. Publication which would in my opinion only be justifiable as part of a strong policy of reprisals against Japan or as result of continuing attacks against British junks would be regarded here as an act of gratuitous provocation.
If report is not published I would propose to press claims [gr.om] outlined (my despatch under reference) while fully maintaining our version of the facts.
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No.1124; repeated to
Shanghai telegram No.888, Governor Hongkong telegram No.159.