CO129-503-8 Treatment of Asiatic British subjects by French Authorities in Indo-China 30-12-1926 - 20-10-1927 — Page 42

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that, although the Anglo-French Convention of Commerce

and Navigation of 1926 might have been invoked, the length

of time during which French vessels had apparently been

enjoying preferential treatment rendered it inadvisable

to take the matter up with the French Government.

4.

I am to enquire whether the fact of other governments

having protested would cause the Board to modify their

previous opinion. No confirmation of the protest stated to

have been made in Paris by the Netherlands Government has

been received, but enquiry could, if necessary, be made

through His Majesty's Minister at The Hague, whilst His

Majesty's Ambassador at Tokyo, if desired, could be instructed

to enquire whether the Japanese Government have made or are

No fresh pro- proposing to make similar representations.

tests, however, have been received in this department from

British shipping companies, and Sir Austen Chamberlain

would prefer at present not to make this matter the subject

of a formal protest to the French Government unless the

Board see strong grounds for doing so.

I am &c.,

(Signed) G. H. VILLIERS.