CO129-585-6 Sino-Japanese conflict- shipping on Pearl River 7-8-1940 - 26-11-1940 — Page 5

The Under-Secretary of State.

Colonial Office. F.5838!26/10.

64

S

Copy to: Adty.

C.O. RES

DEPARTMENTAL No. 2.

Decode. Mr. Blunt (Canton)

(via Shanghai).

25th November, 1940.

D,

4.32 p.m., 25th November, 1940.

R.

9.50 a.m., 26th November, 1940.

No. 2 (R)

3333

Addressed to Shanghai telegram No. 142 of November 23rd. (Please repeat to Foreign Office telegram No. 2).

River reopens on November 24th under certain (drastic) quarantine restrictions which have not yet been notified officially but which unless modified will kill weekly British service.

2. My despatch No. 215 paragraph 2. Pilot fees negotiations show no progress, except that I have requested completion by December 14th, while Japanese naval and military authorities have agreed at last to discuss the question and have given oral guarantee meanwhile not to detain British vessels and to provide pilotage as required provided company continues to deposit with myself full amount of existing fees.

Repeated to Chungking telegram No. 25 Governor Hong Kong telegram No. 142 (please repeat to Commodore telegram No. 39) Commander-in-Chief telegram No. 44 (please repeat to Intelligence Centre Singapore un-numbered).