CO129-579-2 Sino-Japanese War- attack on British ship S.S. Sagres 9-4-1939 - 13-7-1939 — Page 55

M.C.

SECRET

From C.ir C. China,

MESSAGE

IN

DATE 10.4. 39.

RECD. 1145.

55

Interdepartmental Cypher.

Addressed Admiralty repeated Ambassador, Tokyo, 412,

Ambassador, Shanghai, 512, N.L.0. Shanghai, Commodore, Hong Kong. 955.

IMPORTANT

199

My 198 (1925/9). H. M.S. THRACIAN reports protests

were made as follows.

(a) Against abuse of flag verification procedure in that

he was not allowed to board and reveal the SAGRES nationality,

(b) Against seizure of ship,

2.

Protests were not repetition not specifically

made against (a) Japanese examination of manifest and cargo,

(b) Hoisting of Japanese flag.

(c) Right of SAGRES to wear British colours was repeatedly

stressed by boarding officer and finally by signal.

SAGRES wore British colours at ensign staff throughout with

Tapanese Ensign at main. Both ships were at action

stations and submarine periscope was reported very close.

SAGRES papers were in order on leaving Swatow on April 2nd,

Further details of SAGRES actions and intentions will follow

from Commodore, Hong Kong.

1045/10.

Note:- Advance copies to D.C.

1st Lord.

1st S.L.

D.C.N.S. A.C.N. S.

2nd S. L.

PARL. SEC.

P. A. S. (S).- O.D. (3) D. N. Ì. (6).

3rd S. L.

4th S. L.

SEC.

D. of P. (3).

NAVAL SEC.

D. S. D. 9.

5th S.I

CIVIL LORD. M. 36. (12).

& R.C.1550/10.

O.I.C. (3). Trade Div. (2). D.D. of S. T. (Mr.

Dorrell (2). Forcign Office)To be

War Office

sent by

Air Ministry M. Br.