CO129-585-4 Sino-Japanese conflict- Japanese air raids on China 26-1-1940 - 5-7-1940 — Page 8

COPY

No. 18

K:PM SECRET

SAFE HAND

sir,

8

Government House,

Hong Kong

3rd April, 1940.

With reference to my telegram No. 28 of 4th March, 1939, I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that all claims have now been paid from the sum of $20,000 given by the Japanese to compensate for damage and loss of life sustained in the bombing raid on British territory on 21st February, 1939.

2. A statement of the final account is enclosed from which it will be seen that there remains a balance of $3,934.43 refundable to the Japanese. Before forwarding this final account to the local Japanese Consul-General however I should be glad if you would ascertain from the Japanese authorities whether there would be any objection to debiting it also with the amount claimed in my confidential letter No. 21 of 16th March, 1939, in respect of loss of life and injuries to person and property sustained through Japanese gunfire in a village on the border of the New Territories of Hong Kong on 26th November, 1938. This claim is specially selected from the numerous other claims for losses to British subjects arising out of the Sino-Japanese conflict and still unmet by the Japanese as one which might appropriately be paid from the balance of the $20,000 still remaining, since it relates to losses sustained during the same series of military operations and in a village closely adjoining the scene of the incident of 21st February.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your Excellency's most obedient

servant.

His Britannic Majesty's Ambassador,

TOKYO.

(SGD) N.L. SMITH

Colonial Secretary

for Governor.