53838/10/30
SEEN BY DEPT. 2015
MESSAGE
SECRET
From N.L.O. Shanghai.
Interdepartmental Cypher
115
28
Date
16.5.39.
Time 0026
IN
Addressed C.in C. China, repeated Admiralty, Embassy
Shanghai, Embassy Tokyo, Consul General Shang!
Commodore Hong Kong.
IMPORTANT
26 Your 1116 May 12th (not to Consul General
Shanghai). Admiral Nomura confirms that steamship LALITA
was seized about April 27th by Japanese destroyer NADAKAZE
on the ground that she was chartered to Chinese and taken
to Baku in Pescadores where she arrived April 28th and
where she still is. He states that according to
information received so far vessel is property of an
Indian Company (according to information at Shanghai she
belongs to Dholera Steamships Limited 115 (corrupt group)
RA Road Bombay) having been chartered to Fukien provincial Government for period of (corrupt group) beginning (of)
April 15th. He further states that Fukien provincial
Government appeared to have been operating ship under
directions of Chungking Government and that at the time of
seizure vessel carried cargo of steel and copra.
Japanese investigations are still proceeding and Admiral
is making an immediate signal for further reports with
regard to these and also as to welfare of passengers and
crew/