CO129-578-12 Sino-Japanese War- attacks on shipping 10-1-1939 - 17-11-1939 — Page 118

SECRET.

MESSAGE.

FROM-

N.L.O.Shanghai.

ADDRESSED-

IN.

DATED- 16/5/39.

RECD. 0026.

INTERDEPARTMENTAL CYPHER.

CORRECTION RECD. 2020/17.

(-in-C,China, repoated-- Admiralty, Embassy Changhai, Embassy Tokyo, Consul General Shanghai, Commodore Hong Kong.

118

IMPORTANT.

Your 1116 May 12th (not to Consul General Shanghai).

Admiral Nomura confirms that steamship LAITA was seized

about April 27th by Japanese destroyer NADAKAZE on the

suspicion that she was chartered to Chinese and taken to Baku

in Pescadores where she arrived April 28th and where she still

is. He states that according to information received so far

vessel is property of an Indian Company (according to in-

formation at Shanghai she belongs to Dholera Steamships Limited

115 FRERA Road Bombay) having been chartered to Fukien pro-

vincial Government for period of three months beginning April

15th.

He further states that Fukien provincial Government

appeared to have been operating ship under directions of

Chungking Government and that at the time of seizure vessel

carried cargo of steel and copra. Japanese investigations

are still proceeding and Admiral is making an immediate signal

for further reports with regard to these and also as to welfare

of passengers and crew.

(2) When asked why British authorities had not immediately

been informed of occurance Admiral replied he was under the

impression that all notices regarding third power wessels

were transmitted from IDZUMO who apparently failed to do so

in this case. He put this failure down to change of staff

officers and promised he would direct IDZUMO to report similar

occurrances in future.

(3).