CO129-447 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [1-3] — Page 200

N° 47.

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197

15747

PE 1 APR 18

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONGKONG. 9th. February, 1918.

Sir,

4.0.

5207.

I have the honour to acknowledge the

receipt of your cypher telegram of the 30th. January, explana-

-tory of the reasons for the embargo placed on exports to

Japan.

2.

2.05. 2276.

Dems.

You will no doubt realise that in a

great trading centre like Hongkong where the amount of tran- -shipment cargo alone that has to be handled daily is enormous, great dislocation of business and considerable actual financial loss is involved by even a temporary suspen-

-sion of facilities to a country in such close trade rela-

-tions as is Japan. Had it been possible in your telegram of the 16th. January to give an indication to the effect that

export was only suspended pending the giving of guarantees

these difficulties could have been avoided.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient,

humble servant,

Апад

Governor,&c..

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

WALTER LONG, M.P.,

&C..

*&c..

&c...