Stonical Offer OUTWARD TELEGRAM
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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should
(F 8581/78/10)
[Cpher]
No. 923.
kept under Lock and Key.] Withy Compliments
nun
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SECRET
011
Under SectelJy of State s for Foreign Affairs!/A DEPARTMENTAL NO.
FROM FOREIGN OFFICE TO SHANGHAI.
16th September, 1941.
1 SEP 1941
D. 3.00 p.m. 16th September, 1941.
Repeated to Hong Kong No. 959
RECEIVED
Canton No. 21.
18 SEP 1941
C.
WT.
ماننا
Your despatch to Canton No. 28 [of the 2nd June: negotiations with Japanese regarding Hong Kong - Canton shipping questions].
The intention of my telegram No. 389 was that after the settlement of the pilotage tariff question His Majesty's Consul-General should not be involved in any further negotiations with the Japanese about shipping matters of any sort, since such negotiations were in derogation of our treaty rights and prejudiced the position in other ports.
2. This attitude is fully endorsed by Messrs. Swire and Son, the people chiefly interested in the Hong Kong Canton shipping trade, who are emphatic in stating that they prefer to be left to make their own arrangements with the Japanese when they consider it necessary to do so.
3. Our present restrictions on exports to occupied China would in any case render a cargo agreement inoperative. Subject therefore to any observations which the Governor of Hong Kong may wish to offer, the discussions referred to in your despatch should be left in abeyance pending further instructions.
bf706528581/78/40
Spr 16
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