CO129-571-1 Sino-Japanese War- shipping 10-1-1938 - 24-12-1938 — Page 147

COPY

From JAPAN.

Decode.

Sir R.Craigie (Tokyo)

9th January, 1938.

D. 5.50 p.m. 9th January, 1938.

R. 11.40 a.m. 9th January 1938.

No.28.

(R).

147 4

IMPORTANT.

Your telegram No.20.

I understand main Japanese contention (on which claim to control of shipping is based) is that presence of

Chinese mines and remainder of Chinese barriers make it

impossible to guarantee safety of foreign shipping except by means of convoy after period of mine sweeping. If this is so, claim to full freedom of navigation except in regions where actual hostilities are taking place hardly meets the case and, before making representations, I should be glad to know whether we recognise necessity for Japanese convoy, etc., in certain

reaches of the river.

What we must presumably guard against is not Japanese action of genuine direction to safeguard shipping but unnecessary restirctions designed to stifle legitimate trade.

It would be useful if I could be informed of (1) places

at which convoy and mine sweeping are still recognised as necessary, (11) such concrete evidence as is available that preference is being given to Japanese merchant

vessels

proceeding up stream for trade purposes.

Addressed to Foreign Office No.28 of January 9th;

repeated to Shanghai and Commander-in-Chief.