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cannot agree to the exercise by Japan of a right to
exclude civilian aircraft from ce tain areas and to
attack them if they enter thogO STORE. In there
circumstances His Zajesty's Government do not admit the right of any Japanese authority to prevent British
aircraft proceeding about their lawful ocessions.
The British authorities have done auch to
co-operate for the prevention of mistakes arising from the difficulties experienced by the Japanese forces in distinguishing British air-liners from hostile Chinese
aircraft. etails of the time-tables are regularly communicated to the Japanese Conavl➡eneral at Hongkong and the Japanese Naval Attaché at Shanghai by Imperiul
Airways and I had the honour to inform His Excellency the Vice- inister for Foreign Affairs of an alteration in the flying schedule as recently as Sebruary 7th. while these
«essures have been taken by the British authorities with the object of preventing difficulties from arising, they have done so oubject to the reservation that the onus of identifying enemy aircraft before hostile action is taken rests with the Japanese forces concerned. This
responsibility will remain even if aeroplanes in which British interests are concerned should fly within the areas from time to time designated as areas of hostilities by the Japanese authorities concerned.
4.
In this connexion I have to protest, under instructions from His rajesty's rincipal ecretary of
State for Foreign Affairs, in the strongest teras against
the attack on the air-liner
la made from a Japanese
VOMBOl