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120
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Decode and Decypher.
Sir R. Craigie (Tokyo)
29th January, 1938.
D.
10.20 p.m.
29th January, 1938.
R.
4.55 p.m.
29th January, 1938.
No. 123
QÛÛÇODÉOX0
"R" begins.
My telegram No. 115.
When discussing this matter with Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs before I had seen Japanese Government's memorandum I stated that if Japanese military authorities were to be allowed to plead "military necessity" as a pretext for stopping Yangtze shipping we must expect trade along river to be held up indefinitely; such an outcome would completely invalidate Japanese Government's assurances that right to freedom of traffic
was recognized in principle.
He denied my
His Excellency emphatically repudiated this suggestion saying that as soon as present important phase in military operations (presumably those north of Pukow) was over, facilities for river traffic would be accorded. assertion that in point of fact river traïfic could, if local Japanese authorities wished, proceed round the booms [? both] without danger and without detriment to such military operations as were in progress. His Excellency reminded me that booms had been placed in position by Chinese and that when Japanese Government had invited [? His Majesty's Government] to protest against these obstructions to trade they had refused. (I am investigating latter assertion which was new to me).
"R" ends.
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