893.51/6469: Telegram
The Consul at Hong Kong (Donovan) to the Secretary of State
[Received September 28—6:40 a.m.]
Referring to my telegram of September 8, 3 p.m.,7 Chinese Government is removing its stocks of silver stored at Hong Kong to London beginning with the shipment of $25,000,000 national currency last week for following reasons: fear that a declaration of war by Japan would make the transfer of the silver from Hong Kong difficult if not impossible since Japanese naval vessels might not hesitate to remove it from British vessels, upon which all Chinese Government silver destined for England is shipped; if stored in London silver stocks can be used for credit and financial purposes but can not be so used in Hong Kong. Shipments expected to continue at rate of about $25,000,000 per week.
[Page 624]Information furnished by Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation.
Nanking not informed since only wireless communication available.
- Not printed.↩