His Excellency
Protsat amizat destmation of the property of the
Canton owloon fallay.
No.55
(& 4 copies)
Copy to:-
Governor, Hong Kong No.41
CONFIDENTIAL
DY SAFE BAND
British Consulate-General,
CATO,
6th April, 1938.
152
sir,
In continuation of my despatch 70.41 of Varch
glst, enclosing copy of the letter which I sent to the
8 mcial Delegate for Foreign Affairs under Your
Excelleney's instructiona, requesting him to protest to
the Pacification Commissioner against any destruction of
the Canton-Kowloon Railway, I have the honour to transmit
copy of the reply now received.
It will be seen that I am requested to ask
His Majesty's Government to protest to the Japane se
Authorities against any destruction of, or occupation of,
the ailway line in question in the mutual interests of
Great Fritain and China? This is not a new ttitude on
the part of the Chinese Authorities.
the outset
Almost a
of ino-Japanese hostilities an unofficial opinion was
expressed to me that we would naturally protest against
any bombing of the Ceaton-Kowloon Railway by Japanes@
planes. At the time, I pointed out that any such protest
would necessarily involve our rafusal to be parties to the
carriage of military supplies by the Sailway; and I heard
no more in the matter. It seems to me not improbable that
the Japanese might have agreed to some such 'quid pro quo'.
As you are aware,
Nekamura, now Ja;anese consul-
General at Hong Kong, was until August last my colleague at
3ir Archibald Clark 4err, R.C.
Etc., etc., ete.,
His Majesty's Ambassador,
SHANORAI.
Canton.