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French machines and I am further informed by His Majesty'a Consul-General in anghai that the eight Breguet flying
machines referred to by Major unter reached Shanghai on
21st November 1924, having been purchased by Lu Yung-haiang
through the French firm of Chapeaux Frères.
4.
With regard to the observations contained in
612
the final paragraph of your despatch under reference I have the honour to inform you that, until conditions have become
normal and the aeroplanes not already damaged or destroyed on
active service have returned to their bases, I am not in a
position to report on either the numbers of British acroplanes
still in commission or the uses to which they are being put.
I agree however, with your presumption that in the present
conditions in China "all aircraft will in fact be used solely for military purposes" whatever their numbers, their
distribution or their country of origin and in this connection I would refer you to the opinion expressed in my
telegram No. 338 of 22nd November regarding the prohibition
of export of aircraft to China during the present
disturbances. I further note from a perusal of the corr
espondence transmitted under cover of Foreign Office despatch
a. 862 Secret (T 3460/15/10) of 24th October that it has now been decided to make representations to the French Government in regard to the "Chantilly" incident and I am of opinion that the firm attitude adopted by his Majesty's government in this instance will no doubt cause the Frencl.
authorities to act in future more closely in conformity
with the spirit of the Arms Babargo Agreement.
I have etc..
(Signed) Ronald Macleay.