Pearl Kenn
With the Compliments
of the
Under Secretary
for Foreign
24
LIMITED DISTRIBUTION 138 to
Decypher: Mr. Toller, (Shanghai).
7th March, 1940.
147
14M ́
D. 5 p.m.
R. 6 p.m.
7th March, 1940.
7th March, 1940.
No. 199.
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Following is repetition of Canton telegram No. 25 to me
Begins:
Addressed to Embassy Shanghai telegram No. 25 March 4th. 21 My telegram No. 24.
The Japanese Consul this morning told the Commissioner of
Customs that it is proposed to reopen the Fearl River by four stages (1) steamers at present plying allowed to carry both import
and export cargo (2) increased number of sailings to be allowed
(3) reopening to junk traffic (4) customs control [? etc.] at
Whimpoa.
No dates are fixed but the Japanese Consul said that stage (1)
would be put into effect in the very near future and that
stage (4) might be reached in two months.
certainly a minimum limit.
This is almost
a
From the point of view of the British, guarantees of the re-
opening of the river would be of little benefit if Whimpoa were
excluded from customs control. As port is largely used for
military purposes the Japanese suggestion of its submission to
customs control is a great step forward.
Repeated to Governor Hongkong No. 13, Commander-in-Chief No. 6,
Tokyo No. 8. Governor please pass to Commodore for Commander-in-
chief and Chief of Intelligence Staff, Far East, Singapore.