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Decode.
Mr. Phillips (Shanghai)
May 21, 1938.
D.
(by W/T)
May 21, 1938.
R.
8.00 p.m.
May 21, 1938.
No. 167 (R)
0000000000
Addressed Embassy Shanghai 137 May 21.
My telegrams 119 and 127.
An increasing tendency on the part of Japanese army and navy to board and search or otherwise interfere with British
ships and smaller vessels has been noticeable during the past
two weeks.
In addition to boarding vessels trading at small ports of call in the estuary and demanding permits (or in one case compelling crew to unload cargo already on board a lighter which was then transferred to a Japanese vessel) they have frequently boarded British ships or smaller craft under pretext of searching for arms;
at other times they have alleged contravention of harbour regulations or demanded passes from crew or threatened launches with seizure if they moved about the harbour after certain
hours.
I have furnished Commander in Chief with full details of these incidents who is dealing with the matter.
Repeated Foreign Office and Tokyo, copy to Commander in
Chief, Major General and Naval Liaison officer.
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