CO129-585-5 Sino-Japanese conflict- shipping on Pearl River 3-1-1940 - 25-8-1940 — Page 62

PL Enclosans Plopsail 149 28

nom

JAZAR 95 CONSULA

CAM TON

April 20th, 1940.

62

Sir and dear Colleague,

Acknowledging the receipt of your letter dated

February 3rd, 1940, concerning the Temporary Regulations

of the rearl River Pilotage Service, I have the honour to

inform you that the introduction of the Regulations WAS

mainly necessitated by military requirements and the main-

tenance of peace and order with the occupied area, and has

no bearing with the question of the shipmaster's knowledge

of the materway of the Pearl River.

The Pilotage Ground of the Pearl River is situ-

ated within the zone of Japanese Force's military occupation,

where a state of war still exists, therefore, it is only a

matter of course that the area should be placed under the

control of the Japanese Porces. It is a proper measure

until the atate of war ocases to exist, that the responsible

authorities shall deal with and punish any acts harmful to

the maintenance of peace and order or to military requirements

committed by any national.

As to your allegation of discrimination in favour

of Japanese shipping in Article 3, I beg to draw your attention

to the fact that Article 2 applies only to Japanese military

chartered vessels, and not to any other Japanese vennels;

further, to state that it would be rather improper to charge

fee for service rendered to Ja,aneme military chartered vessel

by a Pilot engaged on the same litary's non-official sterf.

The exclusion of shampon from the limits of the

Filotage Ground can be easily understood if you take into

consideration the fact that the Japanese Forces at present

cannot allow for military reasons the entrance into shampos

of any vessels except their military chartered vessels.

8. Voller, Esquire,

H.B.

Consul General

Canton