CO129-579-3 Sino-Japanese War- shipping 30-10-1938 - 23-12-1939 — Page 42

2.

4. I therefore recommend urgent representations be made in Tokyo with a view to withdrawal by military of the order in

question as constituting unwarranted interference with Customs

authority and threatening serious impairment of integrity of

Customs.

5. I do not recommend grant of Consular clearance owing to the difficulty of guaranteeing full protection from Japanese interference after clearance and to the undesirability of our taking the lead in disregarding Customs authority thereby afford- ing the Japanese pretext to do likewise.

Repeated to Foreign Office No. 84, Tokyo No. 65, Commander-in- Chief No. 41, copies to Rear Admiral Yangtze, Naval Liaison

Officer.