CO129-585-1 Sino-Japanese conflict- attacks on shipping 25-1-1940 - 2-10-1940 — Page 284

53838/10/40

Sir,

-284

10

26

March, 1940.

27.2.40.

With reference to the letter from this

Department No.53838/10A/39 of the 19th January 1939 and

to the correspondence ending with Foreign office letter

No. F 1184/674/10 of the 19th February 1940, I am

directed by Mr. Secretary MacDonald to transmit to you,

to be laid before Viscount Halifax, a copy of a despatch

from the Governor of Hong Kong regarding further

attacks by Japanese naval vessels on fishing and cargo

boats in the neighbourhood of Hong Kong.

2.

Many of the incidents referred to by the

Governor appear to bear the marks of mere personal

"racketeering" on the part of the commanders of the

Japanese patrol vessels. In Mr. MacDonald's view it

may be worth considering whether this aspect of the

activities of these vessels should not, at least, be

brought to the notice of the Japanese Government, as

instances of unfriendly and damaging activities against

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE,

FOREIGN OFFICE.

the