CO129-579-2 Sino-Japanese War- attack on British ship S.S. Sagres 9-4-1939 - 13-7-1939 — Page 61

SECRET.

MESSAGE.

IN.

FROM- Commodore Hong Kong.

DATE-

9/4/39.

RECD.

1300.

INTERDEPARTMENTAL CYPHER.

ADDRESSED-

C-in-C. China, repeated- Admiralty,

British Ambassador Tokyo, British Ambassador, Shanghai, Governor Hong Kong,

4

61

DE.

IMPORTANT.

550.

British Ship SAGRES referred to in my 1122

April 6th to C-in-C. China who had been some days in

Chauan Bey correct position of which is latitude 23 degrees

37 minutes North longitude 117 degrees 20 minutes East

loating cargo signalled on April Oth for assistance owing to

danger of seizure. Vessel sailed but was stopped outside

by Jepanese. H.M.S.THRACIAN was ordered from Swatow to

investigate and discovered SAGRES under Japanese onsign and

Prize crew escorted by Japanese destroyer and trawlers.

H.M.S.THRACIAN reports she closed destroyer and sent

boarding officer to protest who was politely informed

by Commanding Officer that Sagres was carrying 2,000 bags

of salt from Chauan Bay to Fouchow for Chinese Government

and had no manifest. Japanese C-in-C. had ordered him to

escort SAGRES to Pescadores for

thorough investigation.

Captain regretted he could not permit SAGRES to be

boaried. Further protest was made by H.M.S.THRACIAN pointing

out his right toisit under existing agreement. H.M.S.

THRACIAN was directed to satisfy himself that Japanese

understood his protest and not repetition not to follow

ship into Japanese territorial waters but to return to

Swatow.

1231/9.

1st Lord.

1st S.L.

2nd S.L.

3rd S. L. 4th S.L. 5th S.L. D.C.N.S.

A.C.N.S. PARL. SEC.

Civil Lord. Sec. Nav.Sec. P.A.S.(S). O.D.(3). D.N.I.( M.30.(12) D. of P. (3) D.S.D.9.

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

D.D. of S.T.(Mr.Dorrell)(2). R.C.(3).

Foreign Office)

War Office

Air Ministry

To be sent by

M. Branch.