CO129-563-18 Sino-Japanese War- stopping of British shipping by Japanese 11-9-1937 - 29-12-1937 — Page 115

53838/11 116

Shippery

IN

SECRET

MESSAGE

FROM:- C. in C. China.

DATE: 6.10.37

RECD:- 1818.

Interdepartmental Cypher (R).

ADDRE SED: -

S.N.O. Nanking (for "anking 60), repeated

S.N.O. West River, Admiralty, Peking 652

Commodore Hong Kong, (and for Governor Hong Kong)

296. Following received from S.N.U. West River has

crossed my telegram No. 59 to Nanking begins: Commodore

Hong Kong repeated C. in C. China from S.N.U. West River.

Personal. Admiral Fung Defence Commissioner has

assured me that by Friday he will give a definite time and date for British merchant vessels to be piloted out of Pearl

River.

He stated that barrier is still passable but delay is

caused by need to survey a deep water channel between barrier

and Boca Tigr which will clear mines and obstructions.

Future passages of gunboats will be arranged and facilities

for lighter traffic to Canton are under consideration.

Consul General asks that paragraph one only repetition one

only be communicted in strict confidence to Jardine's,

Butterfield and Swires and Dodwell.

1900/5 ends.

0906/6.

R.T.

1st Lord. 1st S.L. 2nd S.L. 3rd S.L. 4th S.I. D.C.N.S. A.C.N.S. (Air). A.C.N.S PARL. SEC. CIVIL LORD. SEC.

L

6)

N.V..L SEC P.A.S. (S) O.D. (3 D.N.I. M. (9). M.34. D. of P. (3) Plans (Trade) (2) D.S.D.9.

N.I.D. 8. HYDROG. D. of S.T.