CO129-578-12 Sino-Japanese War- attacks on shipping 10-1-1939 - 17-11-1939 — Page 108

SECRET.

M3 3 SAGE.

IN.

108

FROM- C-in-C.China.

DATE-

7/6/39.

37

RECD. 2020.

36

INTERDEPARTMENTAL CYPHER.

ADDRESSED – Admiralty repeated Embassy Tokyo 464,

R. A. Yang tso (Copies to Embassy Shanghai Waptain on the Staff H.M.S.TAMAR 571, Consul General Shanghai, Naval Liaison Officer by postagram.)

463. My telegram 451 (1411/4). In conclusion

Admiral Oikawa said Japanese Navy fully realised the

great British interests in China which Japanese Navy

was doing its utmost to protect. Unfortunately lower

class Japanese felt strongly that Britain was giving

material aid to China. He himself realised that this

was not so, but he considered some gesture of goodwill

would be of great value to both countries and would

materially assist Japanese Navy in its task. When asked

what form this gesture should take, and that what was

really wanted was a gesture of goodwill by both sides,

he was unable to offer suggestion saying this was a matter

for politicians, In private conversation later he said

he considered this matter one for most serious consider-

ation and one to which he attached greatest importance.

Question was again raised with Japanese at meeting

of Chiefs of Staffs yesterday in IDZUMO Rear Admiral KUSAKA

replied that Admiral Oikawa had nothing definite in mind,

but that last clause of paragraph 13 of a Japanese

memorandum of 25th May which was then under discussion gave

an indication of his meaning. This clause reads:

"It has been stated by British Authorities on many

Occasions that their policy being protection of British

interests in China, their actions here were not taken with

Japan as the object. We therefore desire to request

British Authorities to carefully consider whether eminent

British interests in China could not be accomplished through

their co-operating with Japan, or if co-operation is not

possible,