CO129-585-5 Sino-Japanese conflict- shipping on Pearl River 3-1-1940 - 25-8-1940 — Page 152

2.

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6. The Ministry go on to say that as to the attitude to

be adopted in the event of the Japanese Government expressing a

desire to initiate the proposed conversations, the French Government share the views of His Majesty's Government. They

consider it desirable to avoid separate negotiations which would

give the Japanese Government the possibility of manoeuvring, and

they consider it advisable that any conversations should be on a

semi-official basis, in order not to affect the legal positions

taken up so far. They are inclined to agree with His Majesty's

Government that the proposed discussions might be limited to the

practical arrangements to be made for preparing the resumption

of navigation.

7. Further, the French Government consider that these two

objects might more easily be attained if the conversations

concerning the Yangtse took place at Shanghai and those concerning

the Pearl River, if they are held, at Canton". Ends.

2. As regards the last paragraph, please telegraph your

observations.

Please repeat air mail Saving to Tokyo.

Repeated to Commander-in-Chief unnumbered, washington No. 185,

Chungking No. 28 Tour Series and Paris No. 84 Saving.