In any further communication on is subject, please quote
No. F 9391/827/10.
and address--
not to any person by name
but to-
The Under-Secretary of State,”
Foreign Office,
London, S.W.1.
Immediate.
FOREIGN OFFICE.
S. W. 1.
12th November, 1937.
10.
29
494
Sir,
I am directed by Mr. Secretary Eden to refer to Colonial
Office letters of the 23rd October and the 1st November, both
numbered 53856/37, on the subject of the proposed purchase by
the Indo-China Steam Navigation Company of four China Merchant
steamships. The question of transfer to British registry is
one for the Board of Trade, but since Mr. Eden is advised that,
provided that the necessary conditions are fulfilled, there is
no power to refuse British registry, he presumes that Messrs.
Jardine Matheson and Company's enquiry implies that they would
not complete the transaction if it were to be regarded
unfavourably by His Majesty's Government. As to this, Mr.
Eden considers that no political objections exist.
2. As regards the question of an approach by His Majesty's
Ambassador in Tokyo to the Japanese Government or by Messrs.
Jardine Matheson and Company to the Japanese Consul-General in
Hong Kong with a view to ascertaining whether the ships would
be allowed the freedom of the seas, Mr. Eden shares the view of
the Secretary of State for the Colonies that such action cannot
in present circumstances be contemplated. He agrees, however,
that if the transaction is carried out the attention of the
Japanese Government might be drawn informally to it, for
example, by the Naval Attaché at Tokyo in conversation with
the Ministry of Marine. He could not countenance any formal
approach by Messrs. Jardine Matheson and Company to the Japanese
Consul-General at Hong Kong, as suggested in the telegram from
Hong/
The Under-Secretary of State,
Colonial Office.
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