103
accept orders, where this would entail the diversion of
skilled labour from government orders.
3.
It is understood that there is no prospect of
anti-aircraft guns being available for delivery within
And Mr. Eden
As regards
Messrs.
a short period, even if interference with the requirements
of national defence were to be permitted.
proposes so to reply to Mr. Quo Tai-chi.
ammunition, however, the case is rather different.
Vickers Armstrong have, as stated in paragraph 1, offered
to fulfil one quarter of the prospective order within five
months. Mr. Eden would be glad to learn whether it would
not be possible, without serious prejudice to urgent
orders placed by His Majesty's Government or by governments
to whom they have obligations which might affect the
decision, to authorise the firm to offer delivery of the
first instalment at an earlier date say, within two, or
three, morths.
A negative answer has thus far had to be
returned to all requests in regard to war supplies which
have been put forward from Canton;
recently, for
instance, a request for aircraft had to be denied on the
ground that all available machinese of the type in
question were already promised to the Central Government.
The Army Council will no doubt appreciate the importance
of maintaining and consolidating relations with South
China, and in this instance Mr. Eden is of the opinion
that it would be highly desirable that some response in
regard to the supply of this ammunition should be made,
if it is in any way possible. The amount of material
involved would seem to be slight in comparison with the
political aspect of the matter.
4./