CO129-563-18 Sino-Japanese War- stopping of British shipping by Japanese 11-9-1937 - 29-12-1937 — Page 152

7.12663/27.

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28th September, 1937.

Dear Nichol,

Tippetts of this Department spoke to you on the

telephone about a week ago with regard to a British

vessel

of which the crew

ww

the s.s. "Athanasios"

-

consists of Hong Kong Chinese who fear that when the

ship reaches its destination in Japan they will be

interned or otherwise molested. The ship at present

belongs to Messrs. Townsend Brothers of London who are

ship delivery contractors. You said that you were

prepared to instruct a representative of the Straits

Government to go on board the ship when she arrives at

Singapore (probably on October 2nd) and communicate to

the crew an assurance drawn up by the Foreign Office

and ourselves.

The Foreign Office have telegraphed to our Embassy

in Tokyo and have received a telegram in reply which

shows that the Japanese Government have given an

J.F. Nichol, Esq.

/assurance