is Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be returned
to the Foreign Office if not required for official use.
From SOVIET UNION.
Telegram (en clair) from Mr. MacKillop (Moscow).
D.
R.
5th October, 1937.
(By Bag) 5th October, 1937.
8th October, 1937.
No. 68 Saving.
•
•
་
• •
•
•
•
+
161
SECRET.
Your despatch No. 466 (F.7151/130/10) of September 30th (arms for China).
There seem to be three aspects of question, namely capacity
●f Soviet Government to supply large quantities of arms to China, their willingness to do so (implying consequential willingness to withhold them from their own armed forces) and
the existence of means of despatch in present circumstances.
Military Attaché considers that Soviet Government have
sufficient reserves of arms to enable them to mobilize their
army and in addition to carry on for a period of six months which is probable period before which war industries can be
organized to provide fully for war needs. Soviet Government
could therefore supply China from her own reserves of arms
but probably could not do so to any considerable extent without
touching those reserves. Military Attaché adds however that
his own information is scanty and War Office may be able to
supplement it and should in any case be consulted.
Air Attaché advises that, first-line strength of Soviet
air force being some 3,800 aircraft, they could reduce strength
by 1,500 aircraft, equivalent to R.A.F. and still remain on
equal terms with Germany. Reserves of pilots may amount to
800 and immediate reserves of aircraft to 1,900: these could
be diverted to form striking force but would lack staffs and
ground
...