CO129-570-10 Sino-Japanese War- Japanese seizure of the S.S. ASIAN- claims 15-2-1938 - 12-12-1938 — Page 15

by the Japanese authorities of any document other than

the Certificate of Registry.

5. I should add that at the close of Mr. Cunningham's

interview with Mr. Kurihara the latter made the purely

personal suggestion that Mr. Williamson, the owner of the

s.s. "Asian", might be prepared to effect a compromise in

connexion with this case in consultation with some

japanese firm (he named the Mitsubishi Company) with which

he had business relations. Mr. Cunningham said he would

take note of this suggestion, but that he was not prepared

to comment upon it.

6. I may add further for Your Excellency's information

that according to a member of Mr. Kurihara's staff, who

subsequently discussed some minor points with Mr.

Cunningham, Mr. Nakamura, formerly Japanese Consul-General

at Hongkong, had told the Department that at the time of

the detention of the "Asian" Mr. Williamson had stated that

he had no intention of claiming compensation and that

all he wanted was to have the vessel released. For

this reason Mr. Nakamura had made "almost frantic" efforts

to secure her release and, as a matter of fact, of many

ships which had been detained in a similar way and the

"Asian" had been released in the shortest time.

7. In the circumstances described above there is, it

seems to me, a definite possibility that the Japanese

authorities will ultimately agree to make some payment

in respect of this claim. I shall, therefore, bear the

matter in mind and if within a reasonable time nothing

further is heard from the authorities concerned, I shall

in due course bring it again to their notice.

I have, etc.

(Signed) R. L. CRAIGIE.