។
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be
returned to the Foreign Office if not required for official use.
e.]
142
From CHINA.
Decode.
Mr. Phillips (Shanghai).
15th January, 1938.
D.
(Via W/T.) 14th January, 1938.
R.
11.00 a.m., 14th January, 1938.
No. 15. (R).
1
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Addressed to His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires Shanghai
telegram No. 11.
The following is text of letter addressed to senior Consul on January 10th by Japanese Consul-General on the subject of Yangtze shipping.
Begins.
I have the honour to state that I have been asked by Japanese naval authorities to inform you of the following and through you to the interested Powers.
"As is knom a part of the booms on the Yangtze River which were originally constructed by Chinese for their military purposes has recently been forced through by the Imperial Japanese Navy with a view to utilizing the opening only for military navigation. Since the channel forced through the booms cannot be opened for free navigation without causing under the present circumstances no small obstacle to military operations of Japanese forces, any vessel whether it be Government-owned or privately-owned other than those of Japanese nationality which has the desire of passing through the channel, is hereby cordially requested to get in touch with Japanese wavy and secure beforehand their understanding Needless for its prospective navigation through the booms.
to add that Japanese Lavy are always ready to ive sympathetic understanding to navigation of foreign vessels so far as it is
permissible