No. 765.
(F 11858/6826/10).
Sir,
FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.1.
15th November, 1938.
20
With reference to the despatch dated the 19th
September from the Governor of Hong Kong to the Colonial
Office, copied to Your Excellency as Hong Kong despatch
No. 49, regarding attacks by Japanese naval forces on
Chinese fishing junks having their base at Hong Kong, I
am advised that the absence of any specific statement that
the junks were of British ownership, although it precludes
the presentation to the Japanese Government of a claim for
compensation, does not preclude the entering of a protest
at the action of the Japanese and of a request for its
cessation.
2.
It is proposed that these representations should
be based on the following grounds: -
(a) the desirability of maintaining good relations
between the Japanese Government and His Majesty's
Government and in particular the local Japanese
authorities and the Government of Hong Kong.
(b) the general principles of international law, since
the Japanese Government, like His Majesty's
Government, have subscribed to The Hague
Convention which forbids inter alia attacks on
or even the capture of innocent fishing vessels
in or near coastal waters; further, Japan is
also/
His Excellency
The Right Honourable
Sir Robert Craigie, K.C.M.G., C.B.,
etc.,
etc.,
Tokyo.
etc.,
Page 20Page 21
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