CO129-445 - Public Offices - 1917 — Page 458

It is requested that in any further communication. on this subject the under-mentioned letter and number may be quoted, and the reply addressed to-

The Under Secretary of State for judía,

Political Department.

P. 1703.

India Office,

London, S. W.

REC

23571

453

Ree 7 MAY 17

INDIA OFFICE,

WHITEHALL,

LONDON, SW. 1

4th April, 1917. -

357

Sir,

With reference to your letter No. 2484 of the 26th

January, 1917, and to Mr. Shuckburgh's letter of the 20th

ed 13th April to the War Trade Department, I am directed by the 125th il, 17., Secretary of State for India to forward copy of the

marginally cited letters from the War Trade Department on

the subject of the prohibition of the export of arms and

ammunition from the United Kingdom to certain neutral

destinations in the Far East.

It has now been definitely decided that, as a general

rule, no export licenses will be granted for the export of

arms and ammunition from the United Kingdom, whether for

sporting purposes or otherwise, save in exceptional cases;

and the War Trade Department concur in the suggestion put

forward in the 3rd paragraph of Mr. Shuckburgh's letter of

the 20th April that an unpublished rule should be laid down

1240

-

that an application for permission to export arms or ammunition of any description from the United Kingdom to

neutral destinations in the Far East will be considered in the

absence of a recommendation from the British Consular

authorities concerned.

Mr. Secretary Chamberlain will be glad if the Secretary

of State for the Colonies will now make the necessary

communications to the authorities concerned, with regard to

the export of arms etc., to China, Siam, the Dutch East

Indies

The Under Secretary of State,

COLONIAL OFFICE,

S. W. 1.,