CO129-580-1 Sino-Japanese War- handing over of suspected terrorists to Japanese authorities 1-5-1939 - 24-8-1939 — Page 154

Decypher.

Mr. Jamieson (Tientsin)

24th May, 1939.

D.

1/T

24th way, 1939.

Ro

7.00 p.m.

24th May, 1939.

No. 187.

IMPORTAFT.

NO DISTRIBULIOL.

13. 154

Foreign Office telegram unnumbered of May 22nd to Hongkong

and my telegram No. 183 and my telegram No. 186.

Although evidence against four men in the Cheng assassination

may not be sufficient according to British standards, there is

evidence that they are members of a terrorist gang. My suggestion

is that they should be handed over to Tientsin district court and

their ultimate disposal will depend on verdict of that court.

2.

Japanese Ambassador will not be satisfied with either

expulsion or detention.

3. I submit that British Municipal Council has no legal right

whatever to detain a person who has not been tried, only court of

law which can properly try the persons (other than those having

extraterritorial rights) is Tientsin District Court.

4.

Expulsion in this case would give rise to a [? justifiable]

accusation by the Japanese that we had allowed the culprits to

escape from justice.

5. I earnestly request therefore urgent authority to hand

over these four men to Tientsin District Court for trial and to

deal with other persons already arrested in accordance with my

proposals.

6. You will realise from my previous telegrams the seriousness

of the position and necessity for early action.

Addressed to Foreign Office No. 187 of May 24th, repeated to the Governor of Hongkong for His Majesty's Ambassador unnumbered, Shanghai No. 254, Tokyo No. 109 and Peking No. 70 Saving.