CO129-574-18 Mail Service with Canton and South China 14-12-1938 - 29-12-1938 — Page 20

F 12810/40/10.

Sir,

8. .1.

12th December, 1988.

20

#ith reference to your letter of the 2nd December,

regarding delays and irregularities in the mails from

Canton, I am directed by Viscount Halifax to state that,

in view of the special circumstances obtaining in the

area between Canton and Hong Kong since its occupation

by the Japanche forcee, he feels that it is inevitable

that some delay should have occurred in the transit of

mails between those points. Lord Halifax is confident

that the local British representatives may be relied on

to do all they can to ensure that the best arrangemente

possible in the circumstances are iade for the expeditious

carriage of mails. Unless it can be definitely established

tuat mails to and from Canton have been subjected to

deliberate interference and obstruction by the Japanese

authorities, His Majesty's Government would have little

ground for making official representations to the Japanese

authorities.

2. I air to add that officiul corresp nuence #48

point of fact subject to similar delays at the time to which

you refer; recently however the time takin to reach England

has tended to revert to norral.

→tury,

Chamber of Comerce,

"non Street,

I am

bir,

Your obedient servant,

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