Mr. Eastwood
2.9.37
XSir H. Moore at once 3/9
53548/37
243
241
CYPHER TELEGRAM from the Secretary of State for the Colonies
to the Officer Administering the Government of Hong Kong.
No.157
Sent 12,30 a.m.
4th September, 1937.
Your telegram No.169.
Bernard of Jardine
Matheson has been informed that at present normal
is being
procedure with regard to export of arms from United Kingdom
followed and that no decisions have been taken to
prohibit the export of arms either from this country or from
Hong Kong It was however made clear that it was
impossible to guarantee what position would be when any
particular consignment of arms was actually shipped from this
country or when it arrived in Hong Kong, Nor was it
possible to guarantee that Japanese Government might not at
any time begin to exercise belligerent rights in which case
vessel carrying arms would be exposed to risk of contraband
search or blockade.
General question of future policy now under
consideration.
Copy to gdon 7230/1/37
copies immediate to recipient of 19-23 on
7250/1/37
With F 25-26
m