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the attention of the Imperial Government to the
fact that the Imperial patrol vessel took no steps
to rescue the survivors of the fishing boats which
had been sunk. But it will be readily seen from
the enclosed copy of the report that the Imperial
patrol vessel, so far from not refusing rescue to
the survivors, did her utmost to take such steps
as the circumstances at the time permitted.
Ás has been stated above, the action of the
patrol vessel of the Imperial Navy was an
unavoidable measure taken in the performance of her
duty of enforcing the blockade and there is no
reason for regarding her specially as having been at
fault. But the Imperial Government consider it
most regrettable that, in spite of her efforts, she
was unfortunately unable to achieve adequate success
in the matter of rescuing the survivors and,
particularly if there were, as His Majesty's
Government suppose, British subjects among those
killed and they did not take a direct part in the
challenging attack, they will not be slow to offer
an expression of regret and are prepared also to
consider payment of indemnification.
The Imperial Government further regret that there
are points in which the investigations into this
case of the authorities of either side are at
variance.
His Majesty's Government are, of course, free to
publish a report on this incident but the Imperial Government
would be compelled to counter publication by His Majesty's
Government by publishing the results of their investigations.
The/
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