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the Foreign Office and War Office, to whom similar
letters have been sent, the Board propose to inform
the Soley Armament Co. that they do not desire to
raise any objection to the despatch of the rifles to
Hong Kong provided that the Company will furnish a
written undertaking that the weapons will not be
re-exported from Hong Kong unless the written consent
of the Government of the Colony to such re-export has
first been obtained. This would ensure that the
rifles were not subsequently sent on from Hong Kong
to an undesirable destination either in China or
elsewhere.
I am to add that the Chinese agents referred to
in the second paragraph of the enclosed letter are
Messrs. Arnhold & Co. Ltd., Hong Kong.
A copy of this letter has been sent to the Home
Office.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
A.E. Overtoin.