CO129-585-5 Sino-Japanese conflict- shipping on Pearl River 3-1-1940 - 25-8-1940 — Page 153

RAM

OUTWARD TELEGRAM

I then

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be

kept under Lock and Key.]

18.

154

F 743/157/10.

GENERAL DISTRIBUTION.

To: FRANCE.

.e Compliments

of the

Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs

Telegram (en clair) fo Sir R. Campbell, (Paris)

Foreign Office, February 6th, 1940.

No. 85. S.VING.

17

УУУУУУУУуу

Your telegram No. 69 Saving (of 29th January: re-opening

of the Yangtse].

Please inform French Government of the State Department's reply (see Washington telegram No. 16 of 4th January) and of the line which Sir R. Craigie has been authorised to take (see Tokyo telegram No. 1688 and my telegram No. 898 both of 1939). You may also communicate to the French Government substance of Tokyo telegram No. 43 which seems to show a distinct improvement on the previous attitude of the Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs (Tokyo telegram No. 1646), and inform them of the situation as regards possible opening of Wuhu (Tokyo telegram No. 58 and Shanghai telegram No. 50).

2. I am consulting His Majesty's Ambassador in Shanghai regarding the French Government's suggestion referred to in paragraph 7 of your telegram under reference.

3. Are the words "below Hankow" in the first paragraph of

your telegram correct?

correct? Our information indicates that the present Japanese proposal relates to the re-opening of the Yangtse "from Nanking downwards.