B.A.
SECRET.
MESSAGE
FROM: Naval Liaison Officer, Shanghai.
Interdepartmental Cypher.
4
136
IN.
DATE: 15.6.39.
RECD: 1945.
ADDRESSED: C.in C. China repeated Admiralty, British
Ambassador Shanghai, British Ambassador Tokyo, Captain on Staff H.M.S. TAMAR, R.A.Yangtse, Commodore Hong Kong, Consul General Shanghai.
Your 1413 6th June (not to Cdre. Hong Kong) and your 1425 6th June (not to R.A.Yangtse, Captain on Staff H.M.S. TAMAR, Consul General Shanghai.)
2.
Having read to, and left with, Japanese Naval Authorities reply in accordance with instructions contained in your communication number 1040/10 dated 5th June, to paragraph 13 of memorandum, which they looked upon with the greatest importance. They said they could not agree that British Ships chartered to Chinese and therefore flying the British flag, but obviously assisting Chiang Kai Shek, could be looked upon as British ships carrying on peaceful trade. In this connexion Japanese Government statements on August 26th and September 5th 1937 refer.
3.
I most emphatically stressed your views with regard to S.S. LALITA. I respectfully suggest, however, that if the practice of British shipping firms chartering their ships to Chinese could be prevented it would go a very long
As far as way towards a better understanding with Japanese.
is known it is only the smaller shipping companies who
charter their ships to Chinese.
4.
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.
I expect a written reply from Admiral Oikawa shortly.
PARL.SEC. CIVIL LORD.
SEC. NAVAL SEC. P.A.S.(S). O.D.(3).
D.N.I.(6). M.36.(14)
D. of P.(3). D.S.D.9. O.I.C.(4). D.T.D. (2).
D. L.D.D.
Foreign Office War Office Air Ministry
со
1809/14.
To be sent by M.Branch.
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