NO DISTRIBUTION.
Decypher.
Sir A. Clark-Kerr (Shanghai).
D.
10th June, 1939.
7.05 p.m., 10th June, 1939.
R.
3.05 p.m., 10th June, 1939.
No. 527.
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51, 104
IMMEDIATE.
My telegram No. 524.
Information given to me today by heads of Butterfield and
Swire and Jardine Matheson and Company confirmed the impressions
of British authorities in Tientsin that Japanese really mean
business.
2. It seems to me intolerable that one friendly and
civilised Government should so threaten nationals of another
friendly and civilised Government and I think such threats if put into effect should properly call for immediate retaliatory
action.
3. His Majesty's Government may perhaps have had time by now to [grp. omtd. ] the three suggestions put forward in paragraph 2 of Tokyo telegram No. 463 (not repeated to Commander-in-Chief) and it occurs to me that any measures which
they might have contemplated in order to meet a not dissimilar
situation in Shanghai might now be adapted if necessary to
deal with that which promises to arise in Tientsin, which in its way would be an assault upon our prestige and our position
in the Far East.
4. If, however, I have judged intentions of His Majesty's Government aright, it is not their wish at present to become involved in any major incident with Japan which might
serve to strengthen the hands of Extremists.
YO TRACE
5.