53848/40
Sir,
228
17
April, 1940.
*
ta...
I am directed by Mr. Secretary MacDonald to acknowledge receipt of your letter No.F.2078/1540/10 of the 11th April forwarding a draft of a telegram which it is proposed to address to His Majesty's Ambassador at Tokyo on the subject of the continued attacks by Japanese naval vessels on fishing and cargo boats in the neighbourhood of Hong Kong.
2. I am to suggest that the first two sentences of paragraph 2 of the draft should be amended to read as follows:-
Statement that incidents on 21st January occurred in British waters rests solely on the evidence of Chinese boatmen which is admittedly inconclusive, while incident off Kit Shek was in Chinese waters. Nevertheless these attacks are being made on vessels of Hong Kong registry engaged in local trade or in catching fish for the Hong Kong markets, and it is as well that the Japanese Government should realize that we resent such attacks.
Subject to this amendment, the Secretary of State concurs in the terms of the draft telegram.
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE,
FOREIGN OFFICE.
I am,
Sir,
Your most obedient servant