2.
37
to Chinese Government is not open to question. As regards
last paragraph I understand these Chinese officers were carried
by another ship of the same Company. However correct such
action may have been under International Law, I feel that
action was ill advised in the particular circumstances of the
moment.
On enquiry at Ministry of Marine yesterday Naval Attaché
was informed that grounds for detention were as follows:-
(1) Conveyance of Chinese Government salt from one
Chinese port to another.
(2)
soldiers.
Allegation that salt had been loaded by Chinese
(3) Some members of the crew were not mentioned on the
crews list,
(4) Japanese authorities suspect that ship was under
charter to Chinese Government.
Addressed to Foreign Office No. 362.
Repeated to
Shanghai No. 281, Hong Kong for Commander-in-Chief No. 56.