CO129-445 - Public Offices - 1917 — Page 465

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en requested that in any further communication via zubject the under-mentioned letter and jer may degusted, and the reply addressed to-

The Under Secretary of Hats for India,

Political Department,

1489.

India Ofico,

Lundon, & W

INDIA OFFICE,

WHITEHALL

LONDO.

20th April.

6002.

Mr.

I ma directed by the secretary of state forindis to acknowledge the receipt of your letter

772/17 8 of the 12th april, 1917, on the subject of the export of fire-arus stc from the united Kingdom to

neutral destinations in the Far ...ast.

It is understood that it has bem decided that no licenses can be granted for the expart of sporting. smmunition to any destination at the present time, and

that a further doumunication ay be expected regarding

the expert of sporting arns,

460

kr. Decretary Chamberlain believes that, as a fact, the expert of arms and ammunition of all kinds from the

United Kingdom to neutral destinations in the 'ar est has completely ceased for the present: but he, nevertheless thinks it may be desirable to proceed on the lines of the

roposal conveyed in the second paragraph of år A,

'irtzel's letter of the 9th "ebruary, 1917, to your address. We would therefore miggest that a ruling should be laid down by the Far trade enertment (not necessarily

for immediate publibation) that no application for permission to export arms or ammunition of any descriptio/

from the united zingdom to these destinations will be

considered in the absence of a recommendation from the British Consular authorities conftrned.

Jecretary,

The necessary communication would then be addressed

to

ar Trade Department.