21
FILES ONLY.
351
Paraphrase.
Mr. Alston (Tokio via Pekin) l'arch 1st, 1920.
D. 1.40 p.m. March 1st, 1920.
R. 10.0. a.m. March 3rd, 1920.
No. 77.
Confidential.
With reference to your telegram No. 60.
In reply to my enquiries for further information following received from His Majesty's Consul, Tamsui.
"Your telegram No.3.
In the course of conversation yesterday I drew spontaneous allusions to Paracels Islands from Chief of Foreign Section who asked whether I knew to whom they belonged; adding that Government formerly believed them to be unclaimed but had tele- graphed for definite information to Foreign Office, Tokio. As a (security) for this interest he mentioned fishermen (four groups undecypherable) shell enterprises of Japanese.
I am told that (?fleet of) schooners mentioned in my despatch No. 90 was wrecked on Islands. (?Ukishima) Maru (Teikoku Steamship Company) which left Keelung for Singapore February 24th may possibly touch there on home voyage.
This information would seem practical reply to rumours that annexation may be contemplated but I cannot suggest any action here which might not precipitate such steps. Are French Govern- ment interested in Islands in view of proximity to Indo-China?
(8.3. 8-4).
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