INSLATION
No. 182
From: Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Tokyo,
16
4th October,
1937.
Sir,
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of
Your Excellency's Note of September 28th on the subject
of the transfer of Chinese vessels to foreign registry.
It is clear from the declaration made by the Japanese
Government of September 18th that they do not propose to
deny the validity of transfers made even subsequent to
August 25th when such transfers have been effectively
carried out in accordance with British law. They do not,
therefore, anticipate any complications in respect of such
vessels, and they regard as perfectly correct the view of
His Majesty's Government that the validity of any transfer
under English law can only be determined by the British
legal authorities.
As, however, it is possible that there may be
Chinese vessels effecting a fictitious transfer subsequent
to the proclamation of the interruption of the traffic
of August 25th merely with the object of avoiding the
effects of such proclamation, it is necessary, as occasion
arises, to take such measures as inspection and detention
in order to enquire into the real nationality of such
vessels; and I should be very glad if, in order to avoid
unnecessary complications resulting therefrom, Your
Excellency could send me a list of vessels effectively
transferred from Chinese to British registry since August
25th with, if possible, a sailing schedule of British
vessels.
His Excellency,
The Right Honourable
(Signed) Koki Hirota (L.S.) H.I.J.M. Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Sir Robert Craigie, K.C.M.G., C. B.,
etc.,
etc.,
etc.,
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