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Decypher. Mr. Hayter (Shanghai).
Slipp
LIMITED DISTRIBUTION
20th April, 1940.
D.
R. 9.30 p.m.
20th April, 1940. 20th April, 1940.
538334
No. 354.
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Following is a repitition of telegram No.41 from
Canton begins:
Addressed to Embassy at Shanghai telegram No.41 April 12th. epeated to Mission Chungking No.8 Tokyo No.12 Commander-in-Chief telegram No.9 and Governor Hongkong No. 80.
Governor please pass to Commodore for Commander-in- Chief and Chief of Intelligence Staff, Far East, Singapore.
My despatch No. 55.
1. My Japanese colleague, handed me this morning a memorandum providing for the carriage of cargo as from April 20th by British and Japanese steamers, at present flying between Hongkong and Canton. This is the first of the four steps, enumerated in my telegram No.25. It is so hedged in with conditions and restrictions that it is doubtful whether it is of any real value.
on a
2. The Japanese Consul-General at Hongkong, who is visiting Canton in this connexion tells me that it is hoped ? grp. omtd.7ed through effect of second stage (increase In the number of sailings) in no more than two months and that it is then intended to put the British sailings parity with Japanese. As regards stage 4 he stated that customs would not be allowed to function at Whampoa but that shippers of commercial cargo would be required to send lists thereof to customs and that such cargo would not be allowed to be moved over-head or over-land, but would be brought to Canton by lighter and submitted to customs.
3. In the meantime Japanese are trying to force Commissioners of Customs to engage locals in addition to Japanese watchers. Commissioner is disposed to submit to force majeure: he is telegraphing to-day to Inspector- General on the subject.