CO129-446 - Others & Individuals - 1917 — Page 336

Ay further communication

subject, please quote

157092/10

ddress-

Controller,

vin Trade Department.

Telephone: Gerrard 8640.

C. O

60540

REC

FOREIGN TRADE DEPARTMENT,

LANCASTER HOUSE, 331

ST. JAMES,

S.W.

10th December 1917.

1

sir,

REG2 11 DEC 17

O.A.G

With reference to your letter (57937/1917) of the 29th

ultimo, I am directed by air. Secretary Balfour to state, for the

information of Mr. Secretary Long, that enemies in Chine were by a

June

Proclamation of y 25, 1915, placed on the same footing as enemies

resident in enemy territory. Consequently, no remittances from

this country to enemy subjects in China, such as those indicated in

the telegram from the officer Administering the Government of

Hongkong, are permissible.

Moreover, any British firm in China

which facilitated such a transaction, unless specially licensed to

do so by His Majesty's Minister at Peking, would be guilty of an

offence against the Trading with the Enemy Regulations, and any non-

British firm whion acted as an intermediary would render itself liable

to be Black-Liated.

As Mr. Balfour considers it desirable that enemies in

China anould, as far as possible, be out off from all external

sources for toe supply of money, in order that they may eventually

be compelled by a lack of means of livelihood to seek internment,

he would suggest, subject to Mr. Long's concurrence, that the

reply to Mr. Severn's enquiry should be in the negative.

I am,

Sir,

ne Under-Secretary of State,

COLONIAL OFFICE,

S.W. 1

Your most obedient,

humble Servant,

FEllior.

CONTROLL