mil
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In any further communication on this subject, please quote
No.
F 2474/34/10.
and address-
not to any person by name
but to-
"The Under-Secretary of State,"
Foreign Office,
London, S.W.1.
Sir,
FOREIGN OFFICE.
S.W.1.
8th March, 1938.
12
29
See on 53846378
9
With reference to Colonial Office letter
No.53885/38 of the 2nd March, regarding an application
which has been made by Messrs. W.S.Bailey and Company for
a licence to construct at Hong Kong two river gunboats for
the Chinese Government, I am directed by Viscount Halifax
to inform you that he is advised that the construction of
these boats which can only be regarded as vessels of war is
open to even graver objection than the assembly of military
aircraft which formed the subject of the correspondence with
your department in November last. He is therefore of the
opinion that the Governor of Hong Kong should be instructed to
refuse to grant the licence in question.
2. Copies of this letter are being sent to the
Admiralty, Air Ministry and War Office.
I am,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
LwOrde
The Under-Secretary of State,
Colonial Office.