Copy
33
British Consulate-General,
CANTO N.
1st July, 1939.
Sir and dear Colleague,
I am directed by His Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to lodge with you a vigorous protest against the seizure off KEIOU on June 2nd last by the Japanese Naval authorities of the British 9.3. "Dholera", a steam junk of 106 tons gross burden, owned by the new Dholera 8.9. Company (of Hong Kong), and registered at Hong Kong on December 20th, 1938.
I am further instructed to request that the release of the ship be effected immediately, since at the time of the ship's seizure the vessel was flying the British flag and her papers were in order. On June 16th, the vessel is known to have been anchored in the neighbourhood of Whampoa under detention by the Japanese Authorities.
2.
It appears that the British steam junk "Dholera" is under charter to the ah Hing Shipping Company of No. 76 Connaught Road Central, (first floor). She left Hong Kong under the command of Captain R. Parcou at 11 p.m. on June 1st bound for Keiou, Mankingsa, Chung- shan District with a cargo of 3,820 tins of kerosene oil.
On arrival off Keiou on the following morning, the ship anchored and about 9 a.m. was approached by an armed Japanese motor boat. Several of the members of
the launch were seen to go on board and they remained on board about an hour when they departed.
The con-
signees thereupon went up to the ship in a lighter and were told by the Captain that the Japanese would allow
/a period
Katsuo Okazaki, Esquire,
His Imperial Japanese Majesty's Consul-General,
CANTON.