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ANNEN:-II.B.M. Consul-tieneral, Baluvia, to Foreign Office,
Sir,
No. 46.
British Consulate-General, Batavia,
10th February 1917. With reference to my despatel No. 10 of 27th January 1916, I have the honour to enclose translation of a Decree issued by the Governor-General ou 28th December last, prohibiting entirely, as from 1st January 1917, the import into Netherlands India of firearms. gunpowder, and ammunition, except for the use of the Government, and except in special cases allowed by the Governor- General.
Thus after a lapse of two years and in spite of frequent assertions that they had the import of arms and ammunition under complete control, and that no further control was necessary, this Government have at length realised that the further import is dangerous to the welfare of the Netherlands Indies, and admit that the former control was ineffective.
If therefore in future any consignments of arms or ammunition pass through British ports, I have the honour to suggest that such consignments should be held up until evidence is furnished that either they are for the use of this Government or are being imported under a special permit of the Governor- General.
This is only ons instance out of many of the want of foresight of, this Government and their dilatoriuees in realising the necessity of action until such necessity is forced on them by some sudden and inmediate set of circumstances which renders further delay dangerous. In this case the prohibition of the import of arms is doubtless due to the constant recurrence of rebellion and other indicatious of unrest in various parts of the Netherlands East Indies, and the fear of danger from a further circulation of arms which is already well-nigh universal. When I remarked to a well known official that it had taken the Netherlands East Indian Government two years to arrive at prohibition, I was not surprised by his replying:- -Oh! two years is quite a short time for this Government to take a decision."
I have, &c.,
The Secretary of State,
Foreign Office,
W. R. D. Beckett,
1.8.1 am forwarding copies of this despatch to His Majesty's Minister at the llague, His Excellency the Governor of Hong Kong, His Excellency the Governor of Singapore and the Governor-General of South Africa.
Enclosure in above.
Extract from the Register of the Decrees of the fiovernor-tieneral of
Netherlands India.
Buitenzorg.
(Staatsblail. No. 754.
28th December 1916. Ilaving regard to the decree of 11th October 1916, No. 2 X. (Staatsblad. No. 626.)
Read, &c.
Having further regard to Article 9 of the order of 3rd August 1908
(Staatsblad, No. 491).
It has been found good and understood :—
Firstly. With regard to Article 9 of the order of 3rd August 1908 (Staatsblad, No. 491) to prohibit entirely for the time being the import into Netherlands India of fire arrus, gunpowder, and ammu- nition, except for the benefit of the country's service and by those whose duty it is to be in possession thereof for the country's service. Exemption from this prohibition can be obtained through the Governor-General in special cases.
Secondly. To order that the prohibition mentioned in Part I. of this
decree shall take effect from 1st January 1917, &c.
HULSHOFF POL,
General Secretary.
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ENCLOSURE No. 6: -War Trade Department to India Ofice.
W.T.D. 772/17/8.
(
Sir,
4, Central Buildings, S.W. 1, 13th April 1917.
I am instructed by the Director of the War Trade Department to acknowledge receipt of your letters of 8th February and 27th March, Ref. P. 369, relative to the export of fire-arms from the United Kingdom to neutral destinations in the Far East. I am to state that the whole question relating to the export of sporting ammunition has been under the consideration of the War Oflice, and it has not been possible to give an earlier reply to your letters. It has now been decided that licences cannot be granted for the export of sporting ammunition to any destination at the present time. A further communication will be addressed to you as soon as possible in regard to the export of sporting arms, as it is believed that the manufacture of these gools is to be discontinued.
I have, &c.,
The Under Secretary of State for India.
ENCLOSURE No. 7:- India Office to War Trude Department.
P. 1489.
A. F. Kira.
India Office, 20th April 1917.
Sir,
I am directed by the Secretary of State for India to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, No. W.T.D. 772/17 8., of the 13th April 1917, on the subject of the export of fire-arms, &c., from the United Kingdom to neutral destinations in the Far East.
It is understood that it has been decided that no licences can be granted for the export of sporting ammunition to any destination at the
present time and that a further communication may be expected regarding the export of sporting arms.
Mr. Secretary Chamberlain believes that, as a fact, the export of arms and ammunition of all kinds from the United Kingdom to neutral destinations in the Far East las completely ceased for the present; but he, nevertheless, thinks it may be desirable to proceed on the lines of the proposal conveyed in the second paragraph of my letter of the 9th February 1917 to your address. He would therefore suggest that a ruling should be laid down by the War Trade Department (not necessarily for immediate publicatiou) that no appli- cation for permission to export arms or ammunition of any description from the United Kingdom to these destinations will be considered in the absence of a recommendation from the British Consular authorities concerned.
The necessary communications would then be addressed to the Foreign Office, Colonial Office, and the Government of India, and the new system would be ready to be applied to exports from the United Kingdom if they should be resumed at any time, and in the meantime it could be applied to any proposed exports from British Dominions or Dependencies.
A copy of this letter is being forwarded to the Foreign Office, War Office, Colonial Office, and the Board of Trade.
I have, &c.,
The Secretary,
War Trade Departinent.
J. F. SuccкBURGII.
ENCLOSURE No. 8: -War Trade Department to India Office.
W.T.D. No. 772/17/8.
1, Central Buildings, 8.W. 1., 25th April 1917.
Sir,
la reply to your letter of the 20th instant, I am instructed by the Director of the War Trade Department to state that it has now been definitely decided that, as a general rule, no export licences will be granted for the export of arms and ammunition from the United Kingdon whether for
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