CO129-314 - Public Offices - 1902 — Page 310

Confidential.

Sir:-

FOREIGN OFFICE,

19462.306

May 16th, 1902.

I laid before the Marquess of Lansdowne your

letter of the 8th instant enquiring what answer His

Lordship would wish the Officer Administering the

Goverment of Hong Kong to return to the Japanese

Consul there respecting the proposed occupation of

the island of Pratas by Japan.

I am to state that, in view of the terms of the

enquiry, it would, in His Lordship's opinion, be

sufficient to inform the Japanese Consul that, so

far as His Majesty's Government are aware, the island

has never been occupied by any Power; but that it

might be suggested to him at the same time that

before any action is taken in the matter by the

Japanese Government it would be desirable to ascer-

tain whether Pratas is claimed by China as forming

part

The Under Secretary of State

Colonial Office.