CO129-579-3 Sino-Japanese War- shipping 30-10-1938 - 23-12-1939 — Page 38

38

SECRET

MESSAGE

IN

From

C.in c.China

Date

14.6.39.

Rec'd 1821

Interdepartmental Cypher

Addressed

S.N.O.Tientsin repeated Admiralty, H.M.

Ambassador Shanghai 575, H.M.Ambassador Tokyo 470,

Consul General Tientsin, General Officer

Commanding.

IMPORTANT

14th May.

502.

Consul General Tientsin telegram 1305

Unfortunate experience has proved that a water

on

way once closed by Japanese or other action and on which British Shipping has ceased to operate is extremely difficult to reopen. I therefore suggest for Consul General Tientsin's consideration that every encouragement

to should be given/(corrupt group) to continue to operate Haiho river in spite of restrictions detailed in Consul General Tientsin telegram 1215 May 14th rather than that we should impose on ourselves a prohibition(even in form

Japanese of advice) which would appear precisely what would most wish and which may prove an embarrassing precedent. I concur however with last sentence of Consul General Tientsin telegram under reference concerning non repetition non provision for armed guards under present

circumstances.

2214/14

PARL.SEC. CIVIL LORD.

1st Lord

1st S.L.

2nd S.L.

SEC.

3rd S.L. 4th S.L. 5th S.L.

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

NAVAL SEC.

P.A.S.(S) O.D. (3) D.N.I.(6) M.36(14) D. of P(3)

Advance copy to R.C.2315

D.S.D.9

0.1.C.(4)

D.T.D. (2) .T.D.(2)

D.L.D.D.

Foreign Office) To be

War Office

Air Ministry

со

sent by

M.Branch

R