Shipping
[Th. 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.
Decypher.
Mr. Broadmead (Shanghai)
25th May, 1939.
D.
7.26 p.m. 25th May, 1939.
R.
3.00 p.m. 25th May, 1939.
No. 477.
41
44
IMPORTANT.
0000
At the instigation of Japanese Military authorities reformed Government at Nanking has informed Shanghai Commissioner of Customs that as the Japanese are about to undertake military operations along the coast, owners of vessels wishing to clear for certain places after 1st June must first obtain a certificate from the competent Japanese
Places authorities that it is safe for them to go there.
are Chitung-Haimen (Kiangsu) Haimen (Chekiang). Hsinghua- Hsiuasu, Hanchiang-Chuanchow, Hisinyangeniang and Founing. Two leading British coastal shipping companies maintain
All these regular services to several of these places. ports are covered by inland waters certificate of origin except Chuanchow which was recently opened to foreign trade by the Chinese Government and now enjoys treaty port status.
Commissioner of Customs is not prepared to tell shipping companies outright that they cannot clear without a certificate from the Japanese, but he will advise them first to enquire from the Japanese whether it is safe for vessels to proceed, and if it is to get a certificate. If ship owners refuse to act accordingly the Commissioner will tell them to apply to
their Consuls.
Necessity for action by the Commissioner is of course only an attempt to safeguard his position vis á vis the treaty
powers/
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