CO129-451 - Public Offices - 1918 — Page 609

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remain in the regions in which he was specially inter-

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ested. These precautions were rendered necessary 605 by the fact that a number of Japanese are known to have relations with Indian sedition or with German

Agents, whilst many have fallen under strong suspicion of espionage in various parts of the British Dominions. The present system, under which all persons visit-

ing British Possessions are required to provide themselves with properly visaed passports, ensures that the British Authorities in Japan shall be aware of the movements of suspects who try to go to British destina- tions, so that they can either refuse all facilities for such journeys or notify the proper authorities,

may seem best. It will be seriously impaired if ex- ceptions are made in favour of particular classes of persone bound for particular parts of His Majesty's Dominions. The Japanese Authorities in Hong Kong can

have no reasonable cause of complaint if their nationals travelling from Japan to Hong Kong are com- pelled to conform to regulations of universal applica- tion and obtain British Consular visas before their departure; and I venture to hope that it may be found possible to reconsider the question of dispensing Japanese travellers from the necessity of showing passports, at all events as far as those coming by sea to Hong Kong are concerned. If however your Govern- ment feel unable to reverse their previous decision in this respect, I trust that it may be found nossible to take steps to reclude all danger that undesirable Japanese who may thus elude the vigence of the British Authorities in Japan, should utilise these exceptional facilities to reach British India, the Malay States, or any other of the territories specified above without due warning having been given to the

Authorities concemed.

I also venture to request that you will be so kind

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