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6
(D.)
Draft Reply to Mr. Brenan (Canton).
1927.
Foreign Office, May (Telegraphic.)
YOUR telegram No. 32: Supply of arms for General Li Chai-sum. We cannot give assurance regarding special treatment at British ports for German consignment of arms for General Li. This would constitute a departure from our arms embargo policy and from our policy of strict neutrality in Chinese civil war.
As recently as last March we confiscated at Singapore shipment of gunpowder for Tsinanfu arsenal; and we have just refused any material help to Chang Tso-lin in his anti-Red campaign.
To help General Li in way suggested would stultify our general policy; nor is there any guarantee that these arms would not eventually be used in anti-Northern campaign, or even against our own troops at Shanghai,
There is no objection to sale of unarmed motor boats. Please repeat to Peking and Hong Kong.