[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.]
GENERAL DISTRIBUTION
From JAPAN
Decode.
Sir R. Craigie (Tokyo)
3rd January,
1940.
D.
7.55 a.m. 3rd January, 1940.
R.
1.55 p.m. 3rd January, 1940.
178
No. 9 (R)
39. G.S.
6214/157/30.
WWW
Hongkong telegram No. 477 to Colonial Office.
According to the vernacular press the army authorities in
South China issued a statement on December 30th to the effect
that the opening of the Pearl River had been decided on in
order to promote "the welfare of the powers and peoples of
South China and that the withdrawal of the garrisons from the
Hongkong border was designed to make the Japanese intentions
still clearer after friendly consideration of the wishes of
the British authorities. The army hoped that this state of
affairs, which was evidence of sincerity on their part
might with the goodwill of the Hongkong authorities prove of
a permanent nature.
Repeated to Shanghai telegram No. 6 Hongkong telegram No. 3.