CO129-570-14 Sino-Japanese War- attack on fishing junk by Japanese sailors 18-5-1938 - 22-12-1938 — Page 32

Copy.

(F 2474/6896/10).

No. 438(304/70/38).

Copy to Hong Kong.

British Embassy,

Tokyo.

8th July, 1938.

My Lord,

31

Fith reference to Your Lordship'e telegram No. 453

of the 4th July last, I have the honour to transmit to Your

Lordship herewith a copy of the note which I have today

addressed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs regarding the

alleged attack on Hong Kong fishing Junk No. 291 H.*. which

formed the subject of the despatch K/8/0:PVC which His

Excellency the Governor of Hong Kong addressed to the

ecretary of State for the Colonies on the 18th May last.

2. When I first brought this matter informally to the

notice of the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs on the 17th

June, I spoke very strongly of the in-ortance of putting an

immediate stop to such enormities, which were definitely

damaging to Japan's good name. I cannot help feeling,

however, that it is preferable to proceed with some little

caution when addressing to the Japanese Government an official

note rezarding a case which rests exclusively on the

unsubstantiated evidence of Chinese, whose capacity for

exageration is well known. I have therefore thought it

better to withhold the use of the word "protest", at least

until there has been an opportunity to consider the Japanese

reply.

I have eto.,

(Signed) R.I. Craigie.

The Fight Honourable

The Viscount Halifax, K.0.. 0.0.2.I., 0.0.1.E.

etc.

etc.,

etc.