(F 10580/870/23)
Cypher telegram to Sir R. Craigie, (Tokyo).
Foreign Office, 2nd October, 1959,
No. 670.
53
LIMITED DISTRIBUTION.
6.45 p.m.
0:0:0:0:0:0
Naval Attaché's telegram to Commander-in-Chief, China, timed
12,25, of the 23rd September [searching of British merchant ships by Japanese Customs officials).
While the searching of British ships by Customs officials was
thoroughly objectionable Wwe wore at peace, it is all the more
inexcusable now that war has broken out, since the Japanese are
obviously aware that British ships will now be carrying confidential
orders issued by His Majesty's Government. Further, I am not
+
aware that any valid reason has been alleged for these searches.
You should, therefore, unless you see objection, call
2:
the attention of the Japanese Government to the above considerations,
protest against the practice which seems to have been adopted and
request an assurance that instructions will be given to the Japanese
Customs to ensure its immediate cessation.
Repeated to Commander-in-Chief, China unnumbered.