In any further communication on this subject, please quote
No. F 2535/80/10
and address-
not to any person by name
but to
"The Under-Secretary of State,"
Foreign Office,
London, S.W.1.
Sir,
FOREIGN Office.
48
14
S.W.1.
19th April, 1940.
I am directed by Viscount Halifax to refer to
12. Colonial office letter No.53846/40 of the 10th April on the
subject of the request of the Inter-Continent Corporation
for permission to assemble four aircraft in Hong Kong for
delivery to the Chinese Government.
2. Lord Halifax notes that the Civil Superintendent
of the Aerodrome gave an assurance to the American firm
which the latter interpreted as permission to assemble the
aircraft in Hong Kong, and that in the Governor's opinion the
firm's misunderstanding of the position was genuine.
On these grounds the Governor recommends a reconsideration
of the decision not to grant permission for the assembly in
Hong Kong of four American aircraft for China.
3. The Cabinet decision on this question was based
on grounds of the relations between this country and Japan,
and Lord Halifax regrets therefore that he cannot recommend
that the considerations mentioned in the previous paragraph
form sufficient ground for making an exception in the present
case, particularly at a moment when negotiations for the
control of contraband in transit to Germany via Japanese
territory are about to be opened with the Japanese Government.
A copy of this letter has been sent to the Air
4.
Ministry.
The Under-Secretary of State,
Colonial Office.
I am,
Sir,
Your obedient Servant,
Clarke
Ashley Charbin