137
3.
138
the Japanese Consul-General was equally
unsuccessful in dealing with these
guards who insisted that they were not
responsible to the ship's officers or the Japanese Consul-General and that
they must take the detained man back
in custody to Canton. This high-
handed and unlawful action in a British
port could not be tolerated and the ship was accordingly refused clearance to return to Canton until the man had
been released and steps were taken to
prevent her by force if necessary from leaving the port without clearance. The guards finally gave way at 5 a.m.
on 18th March, 1940, released the man
and the ship was permitted to sail at
8 a.m. on the same day.
3.
The carriage of armed guards
by these so-called Japanese Government
chartered ships into the harbour has
already been the subject of representations
by this Government to the Japanese authorities through His Majesty's
Consul-General, Canton, and an arrangement had been reached that
The present case however shews that they still
retain quite independent authority on these ships
and are liable to exercise it forcibly with serious
risks of provoking an international incident.
4+
Copies of this despatch are being sent to
His Majesty's Consul-General, Canton, and His Majesty's Ambassadors at Shanghai, Tokyo and Chungking.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient, humble servant,
cas. borthacte
Governor,
all arms on board these ships should be locked up by the Captain whilst they
were in British territorial waters.