CO129-570-8 Sino-Japanese War- sinking of Chinese fishing boats by Japanese vessel 31-1-1938 - 22-12-1938 — Page 53

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the attention of the Imperial Government to the

fact that the Imperial patrol vessel took no steps

to rescue the survivors of the fishing boats which

had been sunk. But it will be readily seen from

the enclosed copy of the report that the Imperial

patrol vessel, so far from not refusing rescue to

the survivors, did her utmost to take such steps

as the circumstances at the time permitted.

Ás has been stated above, the action of the

patrol vessel of the Imperial Navy was an

unavoidable measure taken in the performance of her

duty of enforcing the blockade and there is no

reason for regarding her specially as having been at

fault. But the Imperial Government consider it

most regrettable that, in spite of her efforts, she

was unfortunately unable to achieve adequate success

in the matter of rescuing the survivors and,

particularly if there were, as His Majesty's

Government suppose, British subjects among those

killed and they did not take a direct part in the

challenging attack, they will not be slow to offer

an expression of regret and are prepared also to

consider payment of indemnification.

The Imperial Government further regret that there

are points in which the investigations into this

case of the authorities of either side are at

variance.

His Majesty's Government are, of course, free to

publish a report on this incident but the Imperial Government

would be compelled to counter publication by His Majesty's

Government by publishing the results of their investigations.

The/

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