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Secretary of State for the Colonies, The Commodore, Hong Kong.
H.B.M. Consul-General, Canton, No.79. H.B.M. Ambassador, Tokyo, No.94.
4th December, 1939.
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Sir,
With reference to my secret note No.10 of 23rd
April, 1938, forwarding a copy of correspondence regarding
the immobilisation of certain Chinese armed vessels now in
Hong Kong harbour, I have the honour to inform Your Excellency
that at an interview, which the Japanese Consul-General here
asked of me recently, he raised the question whether these
vessels had been disarmed and their wireless apparatus
removed. I informed him that they were immobilised and
prohibited from operating wireless apparatus.
2. On further consideration however I have concluded
that should the Japanese press the point of these ships
remaining here in an armed condition, even though they are
immobilised, it would be difficult to refuse to take further
action to disarm them and all the more difficult now that
Great Britain is at war with Germany and His Majesty's
Government expects the Japanese to exercise an attitude of
strict neutrality towards any German armed vessels that may
seek refuge in Japanese waters.
3. I enclose a list of descriptive particulars in
respect of the three vessels in question now lying in the
harbour
His Britannic Majesty's Ambassador,
SHANGHAI.
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