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consular officer stationed there, after consultation between
the latter and his superintending Legation. Sir John Simon
understands that this requirement has been brought to the
notice of the Commonwealth Government. In view of the fact
that the present consignment of arms is destined for the
Canton authorities and not for the Central Government and,
indeed, may be for objects not approved of by the latter,
it is particularly desirable that steps should be taken in
advance to secure the authorisation of the Nanking
authorities for the transaction, and no doubt the Governor
of Hongkong will await the observations of His Majesty's
Minister at Peking before allowing the consignment to pass
in transit through Hongkong. In this connexion it is to
be observed that the Convention and Statute on the Freedom
of Transit which was signed at Barcelona in 1921 expressly
excludes the export and import of arms from the scope of
the Convention.
I am
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
Cw. Orde