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INWARD TELEGRAM.

TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES.

Typex

COPY FOR REGISTRATION

FROM HONG KONG (Sir A. Grantham)

D. 24th November, 1950. R. 24th

"

11.00 hrs.

62

PRIORITY

No. 1287.

Secret.

Addressed to S. of S. Repeated Peking No. 218,

Tamsui No. 69. (Please pass to

Peking and Tamsui.).

Your savingram No. 820.

Nationalist Soldiers ex S.S. ETHEL MOLLER.

Consul, Tamsui now informs me that he has received written request from the Nationalists for the return of arms. Whilst I appreciate that failure to comply must be embarrassing to him in view of undertaking previously given, I recommend that we should reply to the effect that it is contrary to the policy of H.M.G. to authorise transport of arms to any part of China in the present circumstances, and that arms in question must consequently remain in Hong Kong.

(Copies sent to Foreign Office for repetition

to Peking and Tamsui)