CO129-563-18 Sino-Japanese War- stopping of British shipping by Japanese 11-9-1937 - 29-12-1937 — Page 166

Telegrams "SHIPMINDER, PARL, LONDON,” Telephone-WHITEHALL 5140.

Any further communication on this subject should be addressed to:—

The Assistant Secretary,

Mercantile Marine Department

(address as opposite)

•

and the following number quoted :-

IMMEDIATE.

MERCANTILE MARINE DEPARTMENT,

BOARD OF TRADE,

GREAT GEORGE STREET,

10

167

LONDON, S.W.1.

22nd September, 1937.

y

Sir,

I am directed by the Board of Trade to refer to

your letter, 53538/11/37, of the 14th September,

transmitting a copy of a telegram despatched on the

13th September to the Officer Administering the

Government of Hong Kong in regard to the refusal of

the crew of the "Severn Leigh" to proceed on a voyage

to Japan.

The Board have been informed by the Shipping

Federation that this case has been tried in Hong Kong

and that the Court has found in favour of the men.

On receipt of this information the position was very

fully discussed by the Board with representatives of

the Shipping Federation at a meeting at which

representatives of the Admiralty and the Foreign Office

were present. The Board understand that in the

opinion of the Admiralty and of the Foreign Office,

The Under-Secretary of State,

Colonial Office,

S.W.1.