doubt based on the Hague Convention XIII. As the necessary
circumstances, viz. a state of war and ourselves
neutral, do not formally exist we had to implement
our objection by the indirect means of instructing the
Governor to forbid under a local Ordinance the exportation
of the vessels if constructed. We do not seem to be so
sensitive in the case of the vessels of war constructed
for China in the United Kingdom by Thorneycrofts and
recently exported with the Board of Trade licence.
6.
The Admiralty's letter to the Colonial Office
of 26th March (M.F.5530/38) was not so explicit in
formulating an objection to Messrs.Bailey's application
to build gunboats in Hong Kong for China; and in Jarrett's
letter to me of the 2nd June (1.03084/38) about the
Thorneycroft C.M.boats their possible objections related,
as it seems to us, only to the risk of causing provoca-
tion to, or creating an unpleasant incident with, Japan
if the boats left the Colony by the sea route.
7.
Somewhat the same doubts seem to be
present as regards the real basis of His Majesty's
Government's attitude in the matter or the aircraft
factory
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