CO129-579-12 Sino-Japanese War- bombing of railway line within leased territories (Shamchun Incident) 21-2-1939 - 17-3-1939 — Page 78

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be returned to the Foreign Office if not required for official use.

78

From:

CHINA.

Decypher.

Mr. Blunt (Canton).

23rd February, 1939.

D.

W/T

23rd February, 1939.

R.

8.00 p.m. 23rd February, 1939.

No. 15.

mmmmmmmmmmm

(a)

My telegram No. 41 to Hong Kong.

I have not received Tokyo telegram No. 171. 14E

Subject to this reservation I venture to suggest that

the proposals of the South China military authorities contained in my telegram under reference are adequate with the following additional stiffening to 2.- "On U.S.S. "Panay" scale and without delay".

It seems a pity to waive 3 since it has been offered but perhaps gesture suggested in last paragraph of the Governor of Hong Kong's telegram No.79 to the Colonial Office is preferable.

I feel that for once the Japanese local military authorities are conscious of error and that the opportunity should be used to make it quite clear that such incidents of gross carelessness or [?contemptuous] indifference do not pay. Addressed to Foreign Office No. 15 of 23rd February, repeated to Governor, Hong Kong No. 44, Shanghai No. 31, Tokyo No. 13.