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LIMITED DISTRIBUTION.
Telegram (en clair) from Sir R. Craigie (Tokyo).
D.
5th March, 1940.
5th March, 1940.
R. 12.40 p.m. 5th March, 1940.
No. 10 (SAVING). [Sic].
rrrrrrrrr
Addressed to Hongkong No. 42, repeated to Commander-in-
Chief No. 125, Hongkong please pass Commander-in-Chief and
London.
My No. 37 Minister for Foreign Affairs has now sent
memorandum stating my representations January 30th were at
variance with actual facts for (A) Search took place at
50 degrees 14 minutes or five nautrical miles from Henglan
Lighthouse and Hongkong territorial waters were not entered
(B) Kwonghing did not fly British flag nor was flag painted on
her side covered (C) No member of crew was wounded (D) Master
consented to search (E) In view of doubts regarding vessel's
nationality and language difficulty (whole crew being Chinese) she was taken to Samun roads of her own accord.
Memorandum adds that such inspections are unavoidable
in course of large scale military operations in China and are in no way designed to obstruct shipping or individuals
in their peaceful a vocations.