FO371-24687 — Page 280

NOTHING

O.L

BE WRITTEN

IN THIS

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Minutes.

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discretion as to the way in which he can treat

interned soldiers. The only question is whether,

before employing such interned soldiers (or

before transporting them across the sea), we are

required by law to obtain the consent of the

Chinese Government. I should, myself, have

thought that there was legally no necessity to do

so, because our obligations vis-à-vis the Chinese

Government are, in these matters, governed by the

provisions of Articles 11 and 12. In the cir-

cumstances, it seems to me that neither the

Japanese nor Chinese Government can have legal

grounds for complaint if we employ these soldiers

in Malaya, although there are, no doubt, very good

political reasons for consulting the Chinese

Government before carrying out this scheme.

Patiek Dean.

26th March, 1940.

In the..

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