纛
85
of International Law, since the Imperial Japunose
Govemment, like His Majesty's Government in the United
Kingdom, have subscribed to the Hague Convention which
forbids, inter aliu, attacks on, or even the capture of,
innocent fishing vessels in or near coastal waters;
further Jason is also bound by the normal rales of
International Law which forbid deliberate attacks on
merchant vessels. Moreover although the ships are not
so far as is known, in the main British-owned, interfer-
ence with their activities involves an important British
interest in that these fishing craft, which are licensed
and habitually based on Hong Kong, are laportant provi-
ders of foodstuffs, while the great majority of them
oarry
subjects.
hinese person born in Rong ong and thua British
3.
Further, before communicating the details
of these attoks to me, the Goramasat of Hong Kong
satisfied themselves that there was no evidence to show
that in any of the cases named the junta were engaged in anything but fishing and other innocent activities.
ven if a small number should have been engaged in
activities held to be detrimental to Japanese interests,
the destruction of vessels and, as occurred in & number
of instances, the killing of their crews are neither justified under International Law nor consonant with
the dictates of bumanity.
4.
I have accordingly been instructed to state that it is the earnest hope of His majesty's Goverment
that a study of these details will result in the issue
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