CO129-585-3 Sino-Japanese conflict- shipping 17-1-1940 - 13-11-1940 — Page 12

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No. 316.

JAPANESE EMBASSY,

LONDON. W.1.

September 27th, 1940.

My Lord,

Under instructions from my Government I have

the honour to draw Your Lordship's serious attention

to the case of Ching Kee Steam Navigation Co. Itd.,

now being tried by the Supreme Court of London.

As Your Lordship is doubtless aware the

Japanese Government has lodged a strong protest with

the British Ambassador in Tokyo against the detention by

the Hong Kong Government of six vessels belonging to the

above-mentioned Company, in which considerable Japanese

interest is involved. The British Government sent a

reply on the 31st May, but this reply is unsatisfactory

as, in the opinion of the Japanese Government, it does not

take into consideration the actual conditions under which

the Company functions, so that the Japanese Government still

maintain their point of view expressed in the protest

mentioned above.

The Japanese Government, therefore, wish to express

the deep oonoern they feel about the outcome of this case,

and desire to renew their request for the release of these

vessels by the Hong Kong Government,

I have the honour to be, with the highest

consideration,

My Lord,

Your Lordship's obedient and humble servant,

(Sgd.) M. Shigemitsu.

The Right Honourable The Viscount Halifax, K.G., G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E.,

His Britannic Majesty's Principal Sedretary of State for Foreign Af