CO129-563-16 Sino-Japanese War- attacks on shipping 6-9-1937 - 13-11-1937 — Page 91

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They were Caushit for the

There is, of course, the further argument that,

even if these vessels were not exempt from capture in time

of war, there would still be no right to sink or destroy

them, as the Japanese have apparently done.

at the most, be a right to capture them.

There would,

We think there is one more argument still, and

one which lies definitely in our mouth rather than in that

of the Chinese, namely, that to destroy vessels of this

character which, even though Chinese, are licensed to ply

Y from and do ply from Hong Kong and in Hong Kong waters

Sukhwill bÁll for the purposes of supplying the Hong Kong civil

outside #K

Waters

population, is really, in effect to blockade Hong Kong

and what is in practice Hong Kong shipping, whereas the

Japanese have only purported to blockade Chinese territory

and shipping.

I enclose the draft of a telegram which we

propose to send to Tokyo, if you and the Admiralty agree.

I am sending a copy of this letter to Ryder, at

the Admiralty.

Jours sinarily

Ww. Orde