CO129-563-18 Sino-Japanese War- stopping of British shipping by Japanese 11-9-1937 - 29-12-1937 — Page 151

152

24

Telegram from the Secretary of State for the

Colonies to the Governor of the Straits Settlements.

(sent 8.30 p.m, 28th September, 1937.)

No.123.

Following sent at request of the Board of

Trade begins:-

British vessel s.s. "Athanasios" due at

Singapore on October 2nd is proceeding from there

direct to Manila, Tokuyama and Kobe to be sold.

About twenty members of her crew are Hong Kong

Chinese British subjects who will be repatriated at

end of voyage to Hong Kong. They fear that on

arrival in Japanese territory they will be mistaken

for Chinese and interned or otherwise molested.

Please communicate with ship's agents Paterson Simons

and send Government representative on board to inform

crew that the Japanese Government have advised His Majesty's Ambassador at Tokyo that it is extremely

improbable that crew would be detained or otherwise

molested in Japanese territory but that nevertheless they have communicated the facts of the case to the

local authorities.

Ends.