CO129-563-16 Sino-Japanese War- attacks on shipping 6-9-1937 - 13-11-1937 — Page 86

reichinaal

02. 2230/3/57

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مهدیه

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waters of Hong Kong. Since it is impossible to disprove

the Japanese assertion, and indeed it is intrinsically

probable that they would be able to give their own position

more accurately than the commander of the customs boat

could estimate it, we do not feel that any further action

can be taken in Tokyo.

I sent you under cover of my letter No.

P 6690/130/10, of the 23rd September, a minute by

our Legal Adviser on the territorial waters of Heng

Kong. In connexion with the present telegram, me

have had occasion to examine very closely what can be

regarded as territorial waters. Fortunately, in a

way, the Japanese position 18, as I have said,

i have said, outside

anything that we can reasonably claim. On the other

hand, it does seem to us that there would be great

advantage if we were to decide definitely what are to

be regarded as territorial waters. Se have discussed

the point with the Admiralty and we are agreed that for

the moment we should regard as territorial waters

everything which would by the normal rules be territorial

waters/