53838/10/40
Sir,
-284
10
26
March, 1940.
27.2.40.
With reference to the letter from this
Department No.53838/10A/39 of the 19th January 1939 and
to the correspondence ending with Foreign office letter
No. F 1184/674/10 of the 19th February 1940, I am
directed by Mr. Secretary MacDonald to transmit to you,
to be laid before Viscount Halifax, a copy of a despatch
from the Governor of Hong Kong regarding further
attacks by Japanese naval vessels on fishing and cargo
boats in the neighbourhood of Hong Kong.
2.
Many of the incidents referred to by the
Governor appear to bear the marks of mere personal
"racketeering" on the part of the commanders of the
Japanese patrol vessels. In Mr. MacDonald's view it
may be worth considering whether this aspect of the
activities of these vessels should not, at least, be
brought to the notice of the Japanese Government, as
instances of unfriendly and damaging activities against
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE,
FOREIGN OFFICE.
the