CO129-563-18 Sino-Japanese War- stopping of British shipping by Japanese 11-9-1937 - 29-12-1937 — Page 103

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The Board fear that it may be difficult to obtain

from the Japanese authorities any satisfactory assurances

points raised by their statement as reported in

telegram lo. 488, but as the matter has been raised with

them it seems undesirable to allow these points to remain

unchallenged. If the Secretary of state agrees, the

Board would suggest that His Majesty's Representative in

Tokyo be asked to take whatever steps he considers best

to convey to the Japanese authorities that His kajesty's

Government consider that interference with cargoes of

british ships being carried into Chinese ports on junks

or lighters would not be consistent with the statements

already made by the Japanese as to non-interference with

neutral vessels carrying cargoes to China.

A copy of this letter is being sent to the Admiralty

and the Colonial office.

I have the honour to be,

sir,

Your obedient Servant,

(Sgd.) W. Carter.

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