presumably depend on the then relations between the Central and Provincial Governments.
7. There is a further suggestion which I am disposed to favour in this attempt to disentangle ourselves from a policy which has hitherto worked somewhat unfairly against us and too much in favour of our economic competitors and actual enemies in China. This suggestion is that the change in our policy with regard to the arms embargo might perhaps be raised in connection with the revision of the list of pro- hibited imports (arms and ammunition), which, I understand, is still intermittently under discussion at Peking. Many difficulties have arisen from time to time owing
arms, ammunition and munitions of war to the indefinite nature of the terms
used in rule 3 annexed to the Chinese import tariff, and to the practice of the Chinese Government of introducing (entirely at their own discretion) various articles, e.g., acids, chlorate of potash, &c., used mainly for industrial purposes, into the list If there is any of prohibited articles issued by the Chinese Maritime Customs. question of making a Chinese law against the importation of "arms" binding on British subjects, it will be necessary to know quite clearly what articles are included under that term. If, therefore, the King's Regulations are withdrawn—and I am inclined to favour this course at a suitable opportunity-any suggestion to make the Chinese law on the subject binding on British subjects should be contingent on the issue by the Chinese Government of a revised list of prohibited imports acceptable to the foreign Powers. I should be glad to receive your observations on this point, and especially to learn whether, if the revised list proved acceptable to us, we could proceed thereupon to apply it to British subjects in the manner suggested above, or whether we should have to wait until all the other treaty Powers had concurred in its acceptability.
I am, &c.
AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN.
ROM
1926
HONG KONG
Foreign Office
F.1bas/10/10
BOR CIRCULATION :——
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Asst. U.S. of S.
Perm U.S. of S.
Parb U.S. of S.
Secretary of State.
Previous Paper
FO 9293
DATE
28th April.
X C 84 C. 9294
30 APR 1925
China Tariff Conference Situation in China.
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set to Peking.
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Mr. Chitarbuck 30/4
M. Becket Mr Ellis
30
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Sir G. Grindle Sis. Wilson 75
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FO. 9295
Wt. 14587/35 48 11,25 Harrow E.2532