Copy.
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VILLIAMSON & COPY,
P. & 0. BUILDING,
HONG KONG. 28th September, 19
The Honourable ir...mth,0.1,0., Colonial ecretary,
Lord Fo
sir,
i sforenoo 141 16/07/10
Me have the bonour to address you with reference to
telegram No.1649 of 21st August,1940 from His Britamic lajesty's itabossy, Tokyo to the Foreign Office, lonion re- garding our 3,8. `BIGRED" from which we understand the Japanes Navy vill consider early release of er 5,5. WGNMS", provide the British Government will guarantee not to requisition the *SAGRIS" without the consent of the Japanese Goverment in the event of the "BARS" being chartered by Japanese
interests.
In the one of the vessels "DILERA" and "LALITA", release of these vessels would appear to have been conditional
on their Owners agreeing to Charter them to Japanese interosti but as the Japanese Ministry also stipulates that a solution of the BAGRL" question is possible if the s not od be adupted, we promue this infers that we should also agroo to obarter the "SUB" to Jajanesc intarests if required,
re
Our reaction to the above proposal is as follows:- (a) le assume the British Government (represented by Live
Ministry of Chipping) would not agree to guarantee not ( to requisition the "BALAS" with at the connect of the Japuese Government, and we astmers will certainly not submit any such proposal to the British Government. (b) se consider the proposal of the Japanese Government as only an attempt to force us by unfair means to provide then with tonnage which may be employedagainst British interests, and regret we are not prepared to be a party to such an unreasonable proposal, but are still
open to consider any fair and reasonable suggestions