CO129-571-13 Sino-Japanese War- internment of Chinese soldiers 5-12-1938 - 11-1-1939 — Page 19

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7653838/35/38

19

CYPHER TELEGRAM from the Governor of Hong Kong to the

Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Dated 5th December, 1938.

END

Received 3.55 p.m., 5th December.

No. 361.

€ DEC 1038

Addressed to Tokyo telegram.o.116 5th December repeat-

ed to Secretary of State for the Colonies telegram No.361.

Shanghai telegram No.226. During military activities near the

frontier at the end of November about 1,000 armed and or

uniformed Chinese who entered British territory were disarmed

and interned. I am anxious to be rid of these at the earliest

opportunity and the Japanese Consul General has been asked to

consult Tokyo on this subject, suggestion being that they

should be sent in contingents of 100 to Canton and Shanghai

according to birth places. Some undertaking as to non-

molestation would of course have to be obtained from Japan.

I am not clear as to the extent to which the ordinary

ruies as to interned belligerents apply in the present conflict

and would be glad of advice on the point.