CO129-585-5 Sino-Japanese conflict- shipping on Pearl River 3-1-1940 - 25-8-1940 — Page 174

6.

2.

174

(a) Could Anti-Japanese tone of local Chinese

newspapers be prevented? (b) Had I had request from

Chungking that murderers of Wang Ching-wei's nephew

should be handed over to Chinese Government authorities?

(c) Had three Chinese war vessels in Hong Kong been dis-

armed and prohibited from using wireless?

Consul General explained that questions 3 and

5 were asked without any authority. These suggestions

were not made in bargaining fashion though I suspect

that numbers 3 and 4 are inter alia connected.

I replied as follows:

1. No objection on our part (this has been under

discussion at Canton for some time).

2. Enquiry would be made of Naval authorities but

Commodore has

personally I thought that most unlikely.

now informed me that this is out of the question.

3. Had better be put in writing but naturally we

wished to see trade resumed on Pearl River.

4. Enquiries would be made.

5. This was a matter for Japanese but presence of

troops right on border was apt to lead to disturbed

?

conditions which were undesirable.

6. (a) Our censorship is strict but we do not

profess to control views of newspapers. I mentioned

Anti-British propaganda in Canton but made no request

regarding it. (b) No. (c) I was unaware of three such

vessels but all were immobilized and none allowed to

possess wireless.