In any further communication
on this subject, please quote
No. F 1093/184/10
and address-
not to any person by name,
but to-
The Under-Secretary of State,"
Foreign Office,
London, S.W.1.
1
Sir,
Confidential.
flus
¡C. 6707)
22926
20th A, ril, 1926. 79
beber
With reference to Foreign Office letter No.
F 1025/184/10 of March 18th I am directed by Secretary Sir Austen Chamberlain to transmit a copy of recent correspondence with His Majesty's Minister at Peking regarding the China Arms Embargo.
2.
It will be observed from paragraph 5 of the despatch to Sir R. Macleay enclosed herein that the attempt to include aircraft within the scope of the Embargo has now definitely been abandoned owing to the attitude of the other Powers
concerned. As it seems unreasonable to handicap British firms in this respect, definite instructions have now been sent to Sir R. Macleay that aeroplanes for commercial purposes do not come within the scope of the 1919 Embargo of the King's Regulations, which control the arms traffic by British
subjects in China. It should be borne in mind, however, that
the import of all aircraft is prohibited by the Chinese Government except under special licence, for which British firms should take care to apply.
3.
It will also be observed that a further modification of our embargo policy is contemplated in order to enable British firms to compete with foreigners in supplying arms to a future stable and friendly Chinese Government for legitimate requirements of defence. The steps to be taken towards this modification are considered in the Foreign Office despatch to Peking enclosed herein; and Sir Austen Chamberlain would
be
101
The Under Secretary of State,
Colonial Office.