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OPY.
PARAPHRASE:
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FILES ONLY.
MrDering (Bangkok) October 20th 1916.
D. 11.10 a.m. October 20th 1916.
R. 10.65.a.m. October 21st 1916.
No. 158.
With reference to your telegram No. 126 Minister for Foreign Affairs expresses regret for delay occasioned by enquiries whether missionaries had asked for
licenses up country. It is now proved by enquiries that no application for license for detained cart- ridges or arma in question was ever made by Spilman.
Missionary Taylor of Nan for whom cart- ridges intended did apply but was refused by Siamese Government who will not grant licence.
There are included two guns which Spilman
tells Minister for Foreign Affairs are for two
Siamese but these men's licenses have expired and
Siamese Government will not renew them.
Minister for Foreign Affairs therefore concurs in proposed answer to United States Government.
He also learns from Spilman that both guns
and cartridges were (?enclosed) in case of mission stores marked condensed milk which Spilman admits (group undecypherable) to mislead Hong Kong Customs.
Spilman states to His Majesty's Consul- General that he quite understands that he cammot have license and is willing that cartridges etc. should be removed at Hong Kong permitting if possible remainder
of stores to be forwarded.