CO129-563-17 Sino-Japanese War- attacks on shipping. For extracted photographs see CN 3-12 27-9-1937 - 17-1-1938 — Page 10

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Mr.Gent's statement of the position

appears to be correct; but the question whether

or not a patrol should be established is clearly

a matter for the Foreign Office and the Admiralty

jointly to decide.

In No.83 the Commodore in Charge, Hong

Kong, says that force might have to be resorted

to, and that the position of the Commanding

Officer of the patrol might become difficult.

In No.88 the Commander in Chief, China, is evidently

opposed to taking any such action.

The whole question,therefore, of our

relations with Japan, and of our naval strength

in the Far East is involved

and in these

circumstances I should be inclined, in paragraph 3

of the attached draft letter to the Admiralty,

merely to ask them to consider the question

whether a patrol by His Majesty's ships might

be maintained within the limits of the territorial

waters of Hong Kong.

17/12/37.

11. Duncan.

I was summoned this morning at very short

notice to a discussion at the Foreign Office with

Admiralty representatives about this business.

For tunately Mr. Duncan was able to come with me.

Sir W. Malkin presided and for some time we discussed

the area of the territorial waters of Hong Kong,

the

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