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MEMORANDUM.
BOARDING OF MERCHANT VESSELS WING SANG AND KWONG HING.
With reference to your representation in
connection with these matters on January 31st, I have
now received information regarding the circumstances of
these cases and I have the honour to reply as follows.
I take this opportunity to mention that while
Great Britain has encroached upon the peaceful trade of 3rd Powers during the current European War by proclaiming
war contraband and introducing the Order in Council relating
to the Seizure of German Exports, and has been responsible for
the ASAMA MARU Incident in a position far removed from the
area of hostilities, Japan is carrying out operations
under conditions of difficulty imposed by the respect shown
to the peaceful trade of 3rd Powers, in spite of the fact
that she is engaged in large-scale hostilities. I request
you will not lose sight of these circumstances.
1.
Boarding of WING SANG
With regard to the armed boarding party, the boat's
crew, who were under arms, went on board with the boarding
party as a precaution against possible resistance by the
Chinese. The fact that the boarding was carried out at
night was an additional reason for this precaution.
With regard to the failure to sign the log-book,
it is the custom of the Japanese Navy, in accordance with
international procedure, to sign the log-book if the master
of the ship does not object. It appears that in this in-
stance, owing to some mistake, this action was omitted.
This omission being contrary to the custom of
the Japanese Navy, I beg to inform you that proper steps
have been taken to prevent any recurrence.
It appears to be true that the boarding was
carried out in an unfriendly atmosphere but, according to