CO129-579-12 Sino-Japanese War- bombing of railway line within leased territories (Shamchun Incident) 21-2-1939 - 17-3-1939 — Page 93

[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.]

93

To JAPAN.

Cypher telegram to Sir R. Craigie (Tokyo),

Foreign Office, 22nd February, 1939. 7.00 p.m.

No. 93.

IMMEDIATE.

Your telegram No. 171 [of February 22nd: Japanese bombing of Hongkong Leased Territory).

If Minister for Foreign Affairs does raise the question of Hongkong, I think you can only reply that His Majesty's Government have not yet completed their investigations, but the material they have so far collected has led them to take a

very serious view. (In this connexion, you will bear in mind previous correspondence about making known to all ranks actual position of frontier (your telegram No. 1407 of 27th November]), safeguarding of British interests (your telegram No. 1409 [of 29th November]) and promised notice of intended operations (Hongkong telegram to you No. 115 [of 3rd December])). His Majesty's Government have, however, promised to send you instructions as soon as possible.

•

2. If Minister for Foreign Affairs refers to line of settlement proposed by Japanese Consul-General to Mr. Blunt (see Canton telegram to Hongkong No. 41 [of 22nd February]), you should say that you must reserve judgment, but having regard to the very serious character of what occurred you cannot believe that your Government will be content with a local settlement.

Addressed to Tokyo No. 93, repeated to Hongkong unnumbered, Shanghai No. 148 and Canton No. 6.