CO129-578-12 Sino-Japanese War- attacks on shipping 10-1-1939 - 17-11-1939 — Page 112

SECRET.

From C.in C. China.

MESSAGE.

IN.

Date

Recd

-

الى

21/5/39.

1900.

112

Interdepartmental Cypher.

Addressed - N.L.O. Shanghai. Repeated Admiralty.

H. M.Ambassador. Tokyo. H.M.Ambassador, shanghai. Commodore, Hong Kong.

21)

381.

NO TRA

Your 1701 May 19th.

Request you will

convey following message to Admiral Oikawa begins

If British destroyers stationed at entrance of Min River

incommoded Japanese Navy by too liberal use of searchlights

on the night of Hay 16th then I tender by sincere regret.

I will make full enquiry and in the meantime I have ordered

that unnecessary use of searchlights is to be avoided. I

much regret that occasion for complaint should have arisen.

lo signals were exchanged between H.11. Ships and

Chinese nor has it ever been the practice for Royal Navy to

warn the Chinese of the actions of Imperial Japanese Navy.

The launch to which Admiral Uikawa refers was sent by

H. M. Ship to steamship ASIAN for her protection, and the

signals to which exception is taken took place between

H.. Ship and Steamship ASIAN.

While every endeavour will always be made to avoid

interference with Japanese operations I must however reserve

fully the right to take such measures as I consider necessary

for the protection of British shipping. These measures have

been necessitated by recent cases of interference with British

shipping by Japanese in contravention of the flag verification

procedure.

1st Lord. D.C.N.S.

D.of P.(3)

1523/20.

To be

1st S.L.

A.C.N.S.

PARL SEC.

2nd 3.1. 3rd S.L. 4th S.1. 5th S.1.

CIVIL LORD. SJC.

NAVAL SEC. P.A.S(S). 0..(3). D.N.İ.(6). M.36 (14).

Plans (L.D) Foreign Office )sent D.S.D.9. War Office )by

O.I.C.4.

Air Ministry

Trade Div. (2). R.C.(3).

M. Br.

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