§ 18. Mr. Moreingasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the Japanese military authorities in Shanghai claim to exercise censorship on ingoing and outgoing mails; whether he has received any reports on this matter from His Majesty's Consul-General; and whether he will make it clear to the Japanese Government in Tokyo and to the Japanese military authorities in Shanghai that this claim cannot be admitted and will be resisted?
§ Mr. ButlerThe answer to the first and second parts of this question is in the affirmative. As regards the last part, His Majesty's Consul-General in Shanghai has addressed a protest to the Japanese Consul-General and a request that instructions may be issued to refrain from censuring British mails. Representations on the same subject were made by His Majesty's Embassy in Tokyo on 3rd March.
§ Mr. MoreingIf the Japanese continue this policy of trying to impose a censorship, would His Majesty's Government consider re-opening the British Post Office at Shanghai, so as to ensure British mails reaching British nationals?
§ Mr. ButlerI should like to wait till a reply to our representations has been made.