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Pearl Pres
17
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be returned to the Foreign Office if not required for official use.]
155
GENERAL DISTRIBUTION.
From FRANCE.
for Foreign Affairs
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Telegram (en clair) from Sir R. Campbell (Paris).
29th January, 1940.
D.
(By Bag) 29th January, 1940.
R.
10.30 a.., 1st February, 1940.
No. 69 Saving.
9 2 • •
• 鲁 • •
Your telegram No. 454 [of December 21st: navigation of the Yangtse].
In a note dated January 28th the Ministry of Foreign Affairs state that their only knowledge of the Japanese intentions in the matter comes from a short statement read by the Head of the European Department of the Gaimusho to the Counsellor of the French Embassy at Tokyo. This merely said that as the military considerations which had led to the closing of the river no longer prevented certain relaxations, the military authorities had decided to take measures to re- open the river below Hankow. Mention was made of certain
restrictions, which were not explained in detail, and were represented as necessary for the maintenance of peace and order as well as for military operations.
2. Mr. Nishi explained that the preparatory measures would take about two months and that the practical arrangements would be made with the interested Powers in the course of
conversations, for which he did not mention a time or place.
Mr. Nishi added that the Japanese forces intended
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also to reopen the Pearl River.
4. The Ministry state that the French Government did not
consider