CO129-575-3 Japanese affairs 2-1-1939 - 21-12-1939 — Page 144

17!

THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT

FAR EASTERN (CHINA).

CONFIDENTIAL.

[F 2704/84/10]

March 17, 1939.

SECTION 1.

121

Copy No.

Consul-General Sir H. Phillips to Sir A. Clark Kerr.-(Received March 17.)

(No. 94. Confidential.) Sir,

Shanghai, March 2, 1939.

WITH reference to my telegram No. 46 to your Excellency of the 28th February, I have the honour to forward herewith copy of a letter and an unsigned memorandum which the Japanese Consul-General handed to the chairman of the Shanghai Municipal Council at his interview with the latter at 4 P.M. on Tuesday, the 28th February at the council's offices.

2. The British and American members are meeting to-day at 5 P.M. to consider the manner in which a reply should be prepared to this memorandum, since the Japanese Consul-General is pressing for an answer to be sent to him.

I have, &c.

HERBERT PHILLIPS.

Enclosure 1.

Japanese Consul-General to the Chairman of the Municipal Council, Shanghai.

(No. 10.) Sir,

Shanghai, February 28, 1939.

I HAVE the honour to refer to your letter of the 25th February, 1939, handed to me in reply to my letter of the 22nd February with regard to the maintenance of peace and order in the International Settlement.

I regret that your reply is not quite as satisfactory as I have expected. Nevertheless, I am glad to note that the Municipal Council has given its careful consideration to our requests and expressed its willingness to co-operate with the Japanese authorities in the protection of Japanese residents and the suppression of terrorist activities in the International Settlement, and I take it that the council is ready to avail itself of such co-operation of the Japanese authorities as will ultimately achieve the desired results. Upon this understanding the Japanese police organs will now proceed to put into practice the proposed co-operation to cope with the present conditions in Shanghai.

I hope that the joint efforts of the Municipal Council and the Japanese authorities will prove effective in the maintenance of peace and order in the Settlement so that no such undesirable situation will arise as will compel the Japanese authorities to take measures of self-defence.

I have, &c.

Y. MIURA.

Enclosure 2.

Understandings on the Japanese Consul-General's Letters of February 22 and 28, 1939, addressed to the Chairman of the Shanghai Municipal Council and the Latter's Reply dated February 25, 1939, concerning the Maintenance of Peace and Order in the International Settlement of Shanghai.

WITH reference to the five requests put forward in the Japanese Consul- General's letter of the 22nd February, 1939, addressed to the chairman of the Shanghai Municipal Council, it is understood as follows:--

1. No. 2 is the request that the Japanese police organs should be authorised at whatever place and time necessary in the International Settlement, to take

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