CO129-579-7 Sino-Japanese War- shipping on Pearl River 4-1-1939 - 9-6-1939 — Page 13

13

34. F.O.

35.

F.O.

F. 1397/79/10

Cantan tel 23 of 9/3,

(Les of Can

이

F.2449/19/10

*

S'hai let

11.3.39

29 of 9/3.)

13.

(to ofCanton tel 24 of 10/3; arryto working smoothly)

ما

3.

15. 3.

39.

..39.

36. F.O.

('wo c)

Canton deap 40

F.11291/79/10

of 2012.)

37. C.in.C., 1529.

་་

38. F.o.

F.2625/19/10

I'hai tel 246 of 14;3

16.3.39.

39. Fo.

(two of t'hai

F.2625/79/10

(Les c/ set to t'hai, 218 of 16/3.)

til

17.3.39.

At 28 the Governor sent us copies of an exchange

of telegrams between Mr. Blunt and himself on the

subject of Japanese protests at their Government

chartered vessels being treated as ordinary merchant-

men. Mr. Blunt's line of argument was that, having

made so many concessions already, it would be unwise

to risk spoiling everything by not conceding to the

But the Japanese request for special treatment.

Governor at that stage adopted the view that the

original arrangement as contemplated by Hong Kong,

was that these Japanese vessels were to fly the

merchant ensign and a transport pennant but to

conform to merchant vessel Clearance Regulations

(see 4); and that Hong Kong were therefore not

prepared to accord to the Japanese treatment not

enjoyed even by vessels of British nationality.

Since then however, there have been a number of

important developments: and the full story is now

given in Mr. Blunts despatch at 36. Mr. Blunt replied

to the Governor's telegram, giving it as his opinion

that