124

In the fort of thing

Cand

lown & the MM then the 508 apre

Italement that the issue of

with for that the

liceras is

"ifft to the disuction of the

local authoriting

(in the absence of any qualification)

is unsteading

a

coby comes

/

& Send them

l. fort.

A Embarrassing to the lot.)

02- B 16508.

coby of Para 4 of 34255& (est end.

with city of

om letter to M/M & B 42

Ma

22/7/18

The instructions to for.

are in tel.

be argued

it

as to luence

on 2688,

may

perhaps that the "suggestions" of the The fovernor's discretion: but the for. does not

7 course regard himself

having any freedom to refuse to act on these "suggestions.

M-

M. do

onnot limit

OLA

20

This letter in the wrath o

23.7.15

toth in wh. I impremed on tie 5. Eaglesome the danger of driving the wolfram away from V. Kong. He underboot to bene in mind that

something to show thoas-

aspect a

write wo

it would not be over looked at the ministry. fotable Sena

Has

we have had 34255/1/ wh shows that irregular

that ciregular "squeezes "

Send to prevent the duct obstant

we

feared, for

the prevent-

As propond

6.5.24.7.15

at

1. K

Any further communication should be addressed to-

And the following letter and number

THE SECRETARY,

should be quoted:--

C.R.V/C/521

Telegraphic Address: Munorgize, London. Telephone Number: Victoria, 8700.

}

sir,

MINISTRY OF MUNITIONS OF WAR,

WHITEHALL PLACE,

LONDON, S.W.L.

C.O

12 July 1918.

34390

REC

REG 13 JUL 181

ao.

I am directed by the Minister of Munitions to refer to 2.0. your letters 26193/1918 of the 12th June and 28289/1918 of the 26th

June concerning the export of wolfram from Hong Kong.

I am to state, for the information of the Secretary of

State for the Colonies, that Mr. Churchill is in agreement with the Opinion expressed in paragraph 3 of your letter of the 12th June that

the present position of this matter is not altogether satisfactory.

It is regretted that it has not, so far, been possible to obtain the

formal ratification by the American Authorities of the resolutions

passed at the recent Paris Conference regarding wolfram, although the

American representatives have been repeatedly urged to obtain the

ratification of their Government. In the absence of the assistance

from the United States Government, which it had been hoped would

already have been obtained, Mr. Churchill agrees that the maintenance

of the restrictions on the export of wolfram from Hong Kong are

attended with certain disadvantages of the nature indicated in the

de third paragraph of your letter of the 12th June.

26193

i

г

On the other hand he is of opinion that the withdrawal

of these restrictions would result in even more serious disadvantages

to the national interests. Owing to the high prices for wolfram now

obtaining in America, the American purchasers would be able to out-

bid R.M.Government in respect of all the wolfram produced in China

which at present finds its way to Hong Kong. The result of this would

t.. be that neither the United Kingdom nor France would obtain any part

of this wolfram. While the maintenance of these restrictions may,

in some cases, divert traffic from Hong Kong to other ports of ship-

ment where no such restrictions exist, the superior advantages which Hong Kong possesses as a port of transhipment, will, so far as Mr.

Churchill is in a position to judge, always offer a substantial induce-

.

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