CO129-570-7 Sino-Japanese War- attack on shipping 21-3-1938 - 18-11-1938 — Page 30

XMOX SECRET

Copies to B. A. Shanghai No. 35.

B.A. Tokyo No. 49. Commodore, Hong Kong,

پھر

(for Commander-in-Chief).

Sir,

30

چه را

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONG KONG.

19th September, 1938.

I have the honour to refer to Mr. N.L. Smith's

om 538/telegram No. 196 of 18th September, 1937, regarding

y

I'm b'ive will attacks by Japanese naval forces operating near Hong Kong

P 38 -/1/3

waters on Chinese fishing vessels, which have their base

in this Colony, and to forward for your consideration the

accompanying summary of fishing junks and cargo boats

based on Hong Kong, which were molested, damaged or sunk

by Japanese hostile action during the first six months of

this year.

Copy woriganello to F026.

Copy wrout enello to

Acked

Aday

B/T.

2.

Whilst there may conceivably be some

T

and

justification for this war on the cargo vessels in

pursuance of a policy of blockade, though in this

respect also the onus of verifying the nationality of a

junk it is proposed to attack must rest with the ship

making the attack, the wanton destruction of peaceful

fishing vessels would appear to have none whatever;

the effect on this important local industry has been

disastrous, causing the laying up of the larger junks,

restricting the range of the smaller to territorial waters

where only the smaller varieties of fish are to be found,

improverishing the fisherman, and seriously interfering with

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

MALCOLM MACDONALD, M.P.,

&C.,

&C.,

&C.,

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