7
24533
[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.
FROM CHINA
De cypher.
Si H. Phillips (Shanghai).
•
31st May 1939.
D.
(By Wireless)
1st May 1939.
R.
9.40 p.m. 31st May 1939.
41
No. 84.
#tit it
Addressed to His Majesty's Ambassador, Shanghai, No.93,
May 31st.
4!
7
Your telegram No. 477 to Foreign Office.
r
mainly
Of posts for which Japanese certificates are required British Shipping Companies are concerned namely with Haimen in the Yangtze Delta and with Chuanchow and Hsinghua Fukien on the coast.
In case
of the latter two ports Companies hope to be able to evade Japanese requirement (which is enforced by [grp.omtd. Jed Government) by acting
from Amoy or Fonchow. Chief immediate concern is therefore Haimen
to which both Jardin Matheson and Company and Butterfield and Swire have sailings every other day.
2. Butterfield and Swire inform me that when their ship "Tung" is next due to sail for Haimen, June 2nd, they will apply to Customs for clearance and if as expected they are referred to the Japanese mili- tary they will refuse and will ask me to press Customs for clearance.
3. It is probable that on official request from a Treaty Power's representative Customs will grant clearance but this recognition puts the Commission in an awkward position vis-à-vis the Japanese who may proceed to take drastic measures such as seizure of Custom house where they are already in a commanding position as shown by the fact that requirement for obtaining military permits was in the form of a departmental order issued by Japanese administrative Commission without reference to the Commissioner.
4....
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.