[
Copy.
No. 37884/45/A.
167
C.O
11156
REC
PER MAR 17
The Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs presents his compliments to the
United States Ambassador and with reference
to His Excellency's Memorandum 2745 of the
3rd instant has the honour to state that
he cannot throw any light on the reported
statement made by Mr. Spillman concerning
certain goods detained at Hong Kong to which
attention has been called by Messrs. Montgo-
mery Ward and Company. The information
received by His Majesty's Government was to
the effect that according to Mr. Spillman's
own admission both guns and cartridges were
enclosed in a case of stores for the American
Presbyterian Mission labelled condensed milk
whereby the Customs Authorities at Hong Kong
might be misled. Messrs. Montgomery Ward
and Company may desire to enquire of Mr.
Spillman