M of M/2688/Hong Kong
C. D.
[R. 17 JAN.
po
63301
3301
π
As regards the question of the grant of licences for export of
Wolfram to the United States of America, Mr. Churchill is anxious that
British firms in the Colony should not feel that any unfair discrimin-
ation is being made against them in favour of American firms » I am
accordingly to suggest that, subject to Mr. Long's approval, arrangé-
ments should be made whereby the licences to be issued for export of
wolfram from the Colony should be in the proportion of two-thirds in
respect of British firms and one-third in respect of Frogoh firms, and
that in neither case should licences be granted except for reasonably
early shipments.
I am to add for the confidential information of Mr. Long,
that Mr. Churchill's intention is that all wolfram ore shipped by British
firms to this country should be divided equally between this country and
France, so that in effect all Chinese wolfram ore would ultimately be
divided in equal thirds between this country, France and the United
States of America. He is still however of opinion, as stated in this
Department's letter CKV/C/191 of the 27th. December, that as a general
rule all purchases of wolfram in Hong Kong for the benefit of the French
Government should be made through his Department, and that direct shipment
of wolfram to French ports should not be permitted. He has, however,
been requested by the Commission Française des Munitions, in London,
to facilitate the export of 25 tons of wolfram, which had been sold by
a firm of C.A.&.H.Niohola, in Hong Kong, to a firn in France, and that
KM
as this transaction was arranged before this Department's letter of the
27th. December, was written, he considers that an exception in this part-
icular case might properly be made.
In the circumstances the draft telegram enclosed with your
letter of the 3rd. January, would not appear, in its present form, to
meet the situation, and Mr. Churchill would be glad if a telegram
embodying the modifications above suggested were sent to the Government
of Hong Kong.
I am, Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
Downing Street,
On Quarto for Mr. Dixon's signature
17-
January, 1918.
Ind
DRAFT.
F.V.EACON ESQ.,M.F.E.
MINUTE.
Mr. Dixon
Mr. Ewell
/4/1/18
Mr. Collin 16
Mr. Grindle.
Mr. Lambert.
Mr. Bead.
Sir G. Fiddes
Mr. Hewins.
Mr. Long
Ginnu
Comb
Auod 5168
Dear Bacon,
With reference to your officbl
letter CFV/C/484 of the lath of January,
I enclose a revised draft telegram
to the Governor of Hong Kong with regard
to Chinese wolfram.
The telegram
incidentally deals with the Governor's
telegram of the 16th January, a copy of
(2448)
which we sent to you on the 15th January.
Draft telegram to Hong Kong
January, 19TE, (draft herewith)
2 dfts
Do you concur in this diaft?
As regards the fourth para-
grapa of your letter we assume that the
British and French firms mentioned are
British and French firms in Hong Kong
wishing to tranship Chinese wolfram to
the United States, and that what is
said in that paragraph applies to all
shipments of wolfram so the United