S. 590/S.6.
Dear Howe,
SECRET
Februs February, 1940.
56
Thank you for your letter of the 14th (reference
F 763/80/10) about the assembly of four commercial transport
planes in Hong Kong for delivery to the Chinese Government.
So far as we are concerned we regard the matter as
one which must be decided ultimately on diplomatic grounds.
All we wanted to do was to let you have the full facts from the
technical point of view showing the case that could be made out
for agreeing to the request if you decided to accept the
Governor's recommendation.
We certainly do not want to make a submission to the
Cabinet; but if you regard the matter as still governed by
the decision of the 17th November, 1937, even in the case of
civil aircraft I would suggest that the Governor should be told
that in no case can we agree to such assembly.
We should like to be told when applications are in
fact put forward and see the reply you send, in order to keep
in touch with the situation;
R. G. Howe, Esq., C.M.G.,
Foreign Office,
S.W.1.
but it seems hardly worth while
/for