[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.]
93
To JAPAN.
Cypher telegram to Sir R. Craigie (Tokyo),
Foreign Office, 22nd February, 1939. 7.00 p.m.
No. 93.
IMMEDIATE.
Your telegram No. 171 [of February 22nd: Japanese bombing of Hongkong Leased Territory).
If Minister for Foreign Affairs does raise the question of Hongkong, I think you can only reply that His Majesty's Government have not yet completed their investigations, but the material they have so far collected has led them to take a
very serious view. (In this connexion, you will bear in mind previous correspondence about making known to all ranks actual position of frontier (your telegram No. 1407 of 27th November]), safeguarding of British interests (your telegram No. 1409 [of 29th November]) and promised notice of intended operations (Hongkong telegram to you No. 115 [of 3rd December])). His Majesty's Government have, however, promised to send you instructions as soon as possible.
•
2. If Minister for Foreign Affairs refers to line of settlement proposed by Japanese Consul-General to Mr. Blunt (see Canton telegram to Hongkong No. 41 [of 22nd February]), you should say that you must reserve judgment, but having regard to the very serious character of what occurred you cannot believe that your Government will be content with a local settlement.
Addressed to Tokyo No. 93, repeated to Hongkong unnumbered, Shanghai No. 148 and Canton No. 6.