This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be 106 il
returned to the Foreign Office if not required for official use.
ΤΟ CHINA
Cypher telegram to Mr. Jamieson (Tientsin).
Foreign Office.
10th June 1939. 1.30 p.m.
No. 48.
EP C# EL 27 ? IT IND IT IN AÐ AÐ EN 49 52 4 4 7 9 7 46231
50
IMMEDIATE
NO TRACE
Your telegram No. 210 [of June 9th: Tientsin terrorists].
I am not prepared to hand over the four men charged with Cheng
assassination without satisfactory evidence of complicity in that
crime other than their own confessions made while under detention
by the Japanese.
So long however as these men remain in our custody we shall
be subject to menacing demands for their surrender. Since the
Japanese show no indication of producing further evidence I consider
that it would be better to expel the four accused as soon as possible
especially as the imposition of a blockade will make their departure
more difficult.
We are taking considerable risks to save their lives and they
also must take some risks. I suggest that they be given twenty-four hours to clear out on the definite understanding that if they do not
go or subsequently return they will be handed over to the local
authorities without further ado.
If you agree act accordingly.
Repeated to Shanghai No. 461 and Tokyo No. 275.