CO129-589-1 Sino-Japanese War- shipping on Pearl River 26-1-1941 - 17-6-1941 — Page 52

COPY.

(F 1574/78/10)

52

8 Billiter Square,

E.C.3.

3rd March, 1941.

Dear Sterndale Bennett,

Canton Line.

With further reference to our official letter to the Under Secretary, Hong Kong have just wired that subject to the Ambassador's approval they have recommended the local Government to give immediate notice of suspension of the Blunt/Okazaki agreement in mid-March, failing settlement of the pilotage question meantime.

This would probably lead

to the suspension anyway of our ship's sailings; but regardless of that we are now considering, whether it is worth while continuing to run her at the considerable monthly loss, which the present service means.

Yours sincerely,

(Signed). G.W. Swire.

J.C. Sterndale Bennett, Esq.,

C.M.G., M.C.

Foreign Office,

S.W.1.