CO129-563-17 Sino-Japanese War- attacks on shipping. For extracted photographs see CN 3-12 27-9-1937 - 17-1-1938 — Page 127

DRAFT TELEGRAM.

SECRET

Addressed:

Commander-in-Chief, China.

Repeated : Commodore, Hong Kong.

Your 2009/12.

Chah-Sing incident.

Foreign

140

office are repeating to you text of protest to be made at

Tokyo.

It has not been possible to accept suggestion

that maritime customs vessels should be excluded from

British territorial waters, because such action would

seriously handicap them in carrying out their customs duties.

As you are aware, H.M. Government are gravely concerned

over the future of maritime customs, and do not wish to

take any action which might prejudice their working.

In spite of the fact that they are armed public

vessels, customs vessels can be distinguished from warships

on the ground that they have no commission entitling them

to take offensive action against an enemy.

for Head of M.