C
155
FROM: The Special Delegate for Foreign Affairs
for Kwantung and Kwangai
TO: H.M. Consul-General.
dated 1st April, 1938.
(Translation)
* Series No. 268.
Protest against the destruction of the property
of the Canton-Kowloon Railway.
sir,
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of March 15th last stating that the Chinese section of the Canton-Kowloon Railway is mortgaged to the British-Chinese Corporation as security for the loan for the construction of this Railway with the request that I may bring your protest to the notice of the Chinese authorities concerned.
In reply, I have the honour to state that on receipt of your letter I passed on your message to the interested authorities, and that I have received a reply stating that the Chinese authorities have hitherto shown respect for the interests of the British merchants concerned. The reply further points out, as a matter of fact, the Chinese authorities made every endeavour to safeguard the railway at the time that it was bombed daily during the last few months by stren thening the equipment for air defence and by speeding up the work of repair, and that the trains, in fact, were able to travel daily as usual although the railway line was bombed and destroyed almost every day, and that the Chinese authorities will. henceforward do their utmost to respect the loan agreement of the railway in question. As regards the daily bombing of the railway by the Japanese and any future attempt on their part to occupy it thus causing Great Britain and China to suffer a mutual loss, it is considered necessary to the British Consul- General to take this matter up with the British auth- orities concerned asking them to adopt effective measures with a view to atopping the Japanese from carrying on such unlawful action.
In view of the above I have the honour to submit this to you for your information. The favour of your reply to this letter is requested.
I have the honour to be,
sir,
Your obedient servant,
(signed) Philip A.C. Tyau,
Special Delegate.