Telegram (en clair) from Mr. Blunt, (Canton).
No. 4 Saving.
NO DISTRIBUTION.
4th April, 1939.
D.
4th April, 1939.
R.
14th April, 1939.
47
0:0:0:0:0
Addressed to British Embassy Shanghai No. 4 Saving, of
April 4th.
321
My telegram No. 39 of March 3rd.
I asked Japanese Consul-General on March 25th as to prospects
of re-opening Pearl River to navigation, say by April 15th.
He replied that he thought that there was no such early prospect.
Anyway, while reopening of the river would not necessarily follow
arrival of certain Japanese Customs officers which Inspector-
General of Customs had been requested to station at Canton re-
opening would not precede their arrival. Incidentally the local
Commissioner of Customs has still no information as to whether they
will be supplied and when.
2. Yesterday I again asked Mr. Okazaki what were prospects
of reopening. He replied that Japanese authorities had hoped to
reopen the Pearl River either in April or at latest early in May,
but that "military operations" he specifically instanced the
present operations in the Kongmoon neighbourhood
would prevent
reopening, at least during April.
3. With reference to my Savingram No. 2 of February 18th last
paragraph, this continued delay in reopening is very unsatisfactory,
but it is not clear that it is either possible or, if possible,
worth while to take effective counter measures.
Repeated to Foreign Office No. 4 Saving (by air mail), Governor Hongkong No. 7 Saving, Commander-in-Chief No. 3 Saving, Senior Naval Officer W.R. No.1, Tokyo No. 3 Saving.