(in Ammo Trappies file)
To CHINA.
232
36
(F 6262/130/10
Cypher telegram to Mr. Gage (Nanking)
Foreign Office, 11th September 1937, 6.05 p.m.
No. 286.
70 30/1/37
General.
Your telegrams Nos. 417 (of August 30th) and 421
(of September 6th; position of Hongkong as entrepot for
supply of arms).
Arms traffic through Hongkong is of course perfectly
legitimate and up to now no decision has been taken by His
Majesty's Government to vary the normal procedure under
which it is conducted. It is however obvious that if this
traffic continues and grows in volume Japan might not be
content to restrict counter measures to present blockade
of Chinese shipping, but might very probably begin exercis-
ing belligerent rights. The situation that would then arise
is set out in my immediately succeeding telegram which is
repetition of telegram No. 152 sent by Colonial Office to
Governor of Hongkong on September 2nd. It will be
apparent that Japan would effectively stop the import of
munitions into China either direct or via Hongkong and that
China could only alter this by wresting the command of the
sea from Japan.
2. You may at your discretion use the material here
provided to dispel any doubts that responsible Chinese may
feel as to the correct and friendly nature of our attitude.
Addressed to Nanking No. 286, repeated to Hongkong
unnumbered, Peking No. 369, Commander in Chief unnumbered
and Shanghai No. 142.