CO129-570-11 Sino-Japanese War- Japanese attack on Chinese Maritime Customs cruiser- CHAHSING 19-1-1938 - 23-3-1938 — Page 23

Translation:

Minister for Foreign Affairs,

No:

His Excellency,

COPY

23

12th January, 1938

(Received 15th January)

Your Excellency,

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of Your Excellency's Note No. 200 of the 22nd December regarding the firing by a Japanese destroyer on a Chinese Customs patrol boat off Black Point Hongkong, in the afternoon of the 11th December and other matters.

immediately took steps to investigate and confirm the facts of this case and, these having now been established, I have the honour to reply in the following sense.

2.

I

On the 11th December, a Japanese destroyer was riding at anchor at a point about one and a half nautical miles to the west of South West Point. At about 3.15 p.m. she sighted what was thought to be a Chinese gunboat at about three nautical miles in a southerly direction and she ordered her to stop. But the latter Vessel put on speed and the destroyer gave chase firing

on her for a short while.

3.

Though this firing took place outside British territorial waters, some of the shells fell within those

waters.

4.

Moreover, since the crew of the Chinese gun- boat abandoned her and made off, the Japanese destroyer drew up alongside to make sure of the facts and it was

Sir Robert Craigie, K.C.M.G., C.B.,

His Britannic Majesty's Ambassador

etc., etc., etc.,

Tokyo.

etc.,

then/