This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be returned
to the Foreign Office if not required for official use.)
From:
CHINA.
Decypher.
Mr. Jamieson, (Tientsin).
D.
R.
June 10th, 1939.
(by wireless) June 10th, 1939.
9.30.a. in.
June 13th, 1959.
No.
213.
53
101
52,
? My telegrain No. 285 to Shanghai].
Following decisions passed last night by Tientsin branch of
China Association is forwarded to Your Lordship at their request.
Begins.
This meeting of members of Tientsin branch of China Association
having heard of facts connected with request of Japanese authorities
to hand over to Chinese authorities the four men alleged to be con-
cerned with murder of a Chinese official in British Concession and
of Japanese soldiers outside Concession boundary, and having learnt
of representations already made by r. Shaw on their behalf which
were based on legal position as well as realities of this case,
approve and desire to endorse these representations which have already permitted His Majesty's Government to know the feelings of British
community on this matter. The meeting, however, desires with respect to urge once more on His Majesty's Government that a strict view of
their limitations in law should govern decision in present case since
they are no longer in a position to force their ideals on the Far
Castern peoples.
The meeting has also learnt of measures that it is understood will be taken by Japanese military authorities if their request is not complied with, and respectfully represents that these measures, if carried to extremes, would result in present disaster to community and ultimate destruction of work or nearly 80 years.
hile this meeting must not be understood to urge sacrifice of principle to expediency whatsoever it nevertheless hunbly represents to His Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs that the issues involved are of such magnitude as to warrant further considera- tion. Ends.
Addressed to Foreign Office; repeated to Shanghai No. 286, Tokyo No. 130 (Shanghai repeat to Tokyo).