In any further communication
on this subject, please quote
No. F 3030/160/10
and address-
not to any person by name,
but to-
"The Under-Secretary of State,"
Foreign Office,
London, S.W.1.
IMMEDIATE
FOREIGN OFFICE.
S.W.1.
11th May, 1923.
184
28
Sir,
DNSWD
سم
0.2
11 MAY 1933
24
With reference to your letter No. 13702/33 of the
6th instant regarding the proposed purchase by the Canton
authorities of ammunition from Australian Army Stores, I am
directed by Secretary Sir John Simon to draw attention
to the decision of the Cabinet on the 20th March last
(given in Cabinet Conclusions, 19 (33) No. 3) to approve
the refusal of the Secretary of State for War to sell to
In spite Japan an instrument of war from government stock.
of the removal of the arms embargo, there was held in this
particular case to be a difference between the supply of
goods by private firms, and by His Majesty's Government.
2. Sir John Simon does not know whether His Majesty's
Government in the Commonwealth of Australia are aware of
this decision but it would appear to be desirable that the
different parts of the Empire should, as far as possible,
pursue a similar course of action in regard to this importan
matter and a copy of this letter is accordingly being sent
to the Dominions Office in order that they may, if they deem
it appropriate, draw the attention of the Commonwealth
Government to the above decision.
3. A further point for consideration is the requirement
of the Chinese Government that arms may only be exported to
China after a permit has been obtained from the Chinese
Minister in the country of export or, in countries where
there is no resident Chinese Minister, from the Chinese
The Under Secretary of State,
Colonial Office.
consular....