793.94112/386: Telegram
The Consul at Shanghai (Butrick) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 8—2:50 a.m.]
751. The motor vessel Estelle L, 81 tons, owned by Cabotage and Trading Company, Federal Incorporated United States of America and registered under form 35, was detained by the Japanese Navy off Chekiang coast on July 29. After oral and written representations by this office to the Japanese Consul General, the ship was released and arrived in Shanghai on August 6. The Japanese Consul General has written me stating as follows:
“On the 29th July at 10 a.m., one of the patrol boats of the Japanese Navy observed a merchant man navigating in the Futo channel which is within the area where navigation has been prohibited by the proclamation of Vice Admiral Shimada of July 15, 1940. The vessel was signaled to stop and then subjected to a visit, whereupon it was found that the vessel was the m. v. Estelle L, owned by an American firm, and was bound for Kuaotow with certain cargo on board. It was further established vessel had once been visited by the Japanese patrol off Taipingshan on the 17th July, when, however, she was released immediately on the ground that she was trying to clear the prohibited area in good faith. The present detention by the Japanese Navy of the m. v. Estelle L is not only the second one, but also this time it is going to be proved that she has attempted to proceed to the prohibited area with the fullest knowledge of the proclamation above referred to. The Japanese naval authorities hold the view that in the event of her being detained for the third time she will never be released.”
The proclamation of July 15 referred to was reported to the Department in my 639, July 15, 3 p.m.
Sent to the Department. Repeated to Peiping, Chungking. By air mail to Tokyo.