FO371-24687 — Page 321

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COFY.

49

K:EB.

SECRET.

SAFE HAND.

Copied to: H.M. Ambassador,

Tokyo No. 41 H.M. Ambassador

Shanghai No. 62 H.M.Consul-General,

Canton No. 29

Secretary of State. Commodore, Hong Kong.

223

Government House,

Hong Kong.

21st May, 1940.

Sir,

I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of Your Excellency's letter No. 22 of 27th April, 1940, regarding the immobilization of certain Chinese armed vessels now in Hong Kong harbour and to refer Your Excellency to my secret despatch of 23rd April, 1938, to the Secretary of State for the Colonies and my lemi-official letter of 8th March, 1938, to His Majesty's Consul-General, Canton, which show that, contrary to the statement of the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs, measures had already been taken two years ago to secure the immobilization of these vessels. Further copies of this correspondence are appended for ease of reference. Measures which secured the immobilization of the vessels by removal of engine parts rendered them liable to grave danger should it become necessary for them to manoeuvre in a typhoon and for this reason I considered the alternative measures now suggested for disarmament to be the more suitable means of immobilizing them as vessels of war.

2. The obligations of this Colony under international law to auopt a strictly neutral attitude towards the presence of these vessels in its waters are incontrovertible and the fact that out of consideration for our close and friendly nei hbour, China, this Government has not hitherto enforced these obligations to the strict letter does not exempt it from them and indeed it would have no option in the mutter should the Japanese press further their representations in the matter. But since I am most anxious not to take any action which might humiliate the Chinese Government I have hitherto refrained from concelling these vessels to disarm, preferring rather to suggest that disarmament should be made as a voluntary act on their part; and to facilitate this course I would be prepared to keep the arms and ammunition in Hong Kong Government premises so that no embarrassment might be caused to the Chinese Government through lack of adequate accommodation for their storage.

His Britannic Majesty's Ambassador

at Chungking.

5.

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