NATIONAL
FOR
SCHEME
DISABLED
MEN
Sir,
Any further communication should be addressed to--
The Secretary of the Admiralty,
London, S. W.1.
quoting “M.F.5530/38.
L.P.-No.
0.15
25
Admiralty, S.W.1.
26th March, 1938.
In reply to your letter of the 2nd March, No.53885/38
I am commanded by My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to
acquaint you for the information of the Secretary of State for
the Colonies that the Hong Kong Government have no power to
withhold licences under the Naval Treaties Acts, 1922 and 1937,
for the construction or delivery of the gunboats ordered from
Messrs. W.S. Bailey & Company by the Canton Government, unless
the vessels contravene the restrictions as to size, armament,
etc. imposed by the London Naval Treaty 1936. As there is
virtually no possibility that the Treaty restrictions will be
exceeded, it will be necessary, if the proposal of the Foreign
Office not to allow the construction of these vessels is to be
followed, either to invoke the Foreign Enlistment Act or to
enact special ad hoc legislation in Hong Kong to prevent the
construction or delivery of the boats.
2.
Licences issued in the United Kingdom under the
Naval Treaties Acts contain provision that they shall have no
force or effect if any action under the m
The Under Secretary of State,
Colonial Office,
constitutes a breach
of/
BH.
S.W.1.