CO129-570-8 Sino-Japanese War- sinking of Chinese fishing boats by Japanese vessel 31-1-1938 - 22-12-1938 — Page 10

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of Hong Kong is taking steps to draw up a

claim for compensation on behalf of the British

subjects involved, and that no doubt this

will be presented to the Japanese Government

as soon as possible.

P. Roge D

14. 4.38.

The offruce seams to lu Even

More serious uheu Counciltea

at a time when no state of war, in the ordinary sense, Exists.

1.D.

The allegation surely

is ridiculous.

4.1.

The circumstances of the sinking by the

Japanese war vessel of Chinese fishing junks

last September, as established in the Hong

Kong report, were sufficiently revolting as

to justify the extreme indignation which has

been expressed to the Japanese authorities on

behalf of H.M.G.

In view of the Japanese reply, however,

(see encf. in 9) I doubt if any purpose would

be served by too strong expression of views

to the F.0. in reply to No.11. We cannot

achieve any practical result by prog en Casting

slides on the inhuman methods practised

by the Japanese Commander, nor, I think, should

we stress the Hague Convention No.11 since

that Convention postulates a state of war, and

further the exemption of fishing vessels under

Article 3 is dependent on their taking no part

whatever in hostilities. The Japanese (however

ridiculous it may sound) allege that the junks

opened fire first and were subsequently sunk

by

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