CO129-571-1 Sino-Japanese War- shipping 10-1-1938 - 24-12-1938 — Page 166

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they are specifically mentioned in the new Regulations.

There have been protests regarding their movements without

alleged notice or "permission" by British gunboats, and on

October 26th a request was made to the Consular Body to

inform "any river gunboat" that "permission should first be

asked and obtained before passing Bocca Tigris". I

referred the matter to the Commander-in-Chief and to Your

Excellency (telegram to C-in-C No.41 of October 27) and

it was agreed that where possible British gunboats would

inform the Chinese Military Authorities in advance of their

The official communication was ignored and

movements.

I shall do the same with the Regulations (Enclosure 2)

if ever published. I have verbally made it quite clear to

the Provincial Chairman and to the Special Delegate for

Foreign Affairs what we consider the Treaty position on the

question (see Teichman's Vade Mecum page 51). I anticipate

no trouble.

General Vu

17. I have been very much indebted to Captain A.B.

Cunninghame Graham R.N. for his assistance and advice

throughout all these protracted negotiations.

Te-chen has been most helpful, and much has been due latterly

to Dr. Andrew S.F. Lin, the delegate of the special Delegate

for Foreign ffairs. The absence of Dr. Philip Tyau, the

Special Delegate, throughout the period in Singapore, the

sickness of Dr. S.F. Lin, and, at a critical stage towards

the end of October, the simultaneous illness of General Vu

Te-chen and absence of Mayor Tseng Yang-fu, have not helped

matters. The situation is temporarily satisfactory. What

will happen, when, as seems inevitable, Japanese military,

naval and aerial attentions return to Canton, is problematical

I have, etc.,

(Signed) A.P. BLUNT.

Consul-General.