(25/723(1)/39)
British Embassy, Tokyo,
21st April, 1939.
84
My dear Vice-Minister,
There is a question arising out of the closure
of the Pearl River which it has not proved possible to
solve locally and with regard to which I should be
grateful for your help.
When the Chinese closed the Pearl River on 13th
October 1938 a number of British ships were confined up-stream.
Five of these ships had before that date loaded their cargoes
and complied with all customs formalities and were ready to
sail. Since the occupation of Canton by the Japanese forces
negotiations have been in progress between the British and
Japanese Consular authorities at Canton for the release of
these ships. On the 20th January the Japanese Consul-
General informed His Majesty's Consul-General that an
agreement for the interned British ships to return to
Hong Kong could be expected within the next week.
The agreement was postponed; but on March 2nd
and on March 8th the Japanese Consul-General again informed
the British Consul-General that he had hopes that the
sailing of the vessels would not be much longer delayed.
In the latter part of March however His Majesty's Consul-
General was informed that, owing to instructions received
from Tokyo that Canton must be cut off from all trade with
the outside world and the interior of China, it would not
His Excellency,
Mr. Renzo Sawada,
His Imperial Japanese Majesty's
Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs.
be...