CO129-432 - Governor Sir May - 1916 [3-5] — Page 51

+ CONFIDENTIAL.

Sir,

18415

Regd 17. Afr.1916

49

GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

HONGKONG.

7th. March, 1916.

Adm 192835. Yeu hiss

have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your telegram of the 28th. February in cypher of which the follow-

-ing is a paraphrase:-

Admiralty have requested that steps should be taken to

prevent reports appearing in the newspapers of encounters between submarines and ships. Although such reports may not contain anything in themselves which the enemy do not

know the Germans take advantage of any circumstance that

may be construed as an admission that Merchmt ships have

attacked submarines otherwise than in self defence.

Reports of this kind have appeared in press in India and

proved embarassing,

The instructions will be observed.

I have the honour to be,

Sir.

Your most obedient,

humble servant,

2.7.1

Governor,&c..

HE RIGHT HONOURABLE

ANDREW BONAR LAW, M.P.,

&C..

&C..

&c...