CO129-458 - Public Offices & Others - 1919 — Page 276

:

I suppose that the price they

to

I do not know whether the Col. Gout will

understands off the

this.

ta

inthout further trying to

clucidate this point,

hary is

60%

stated in te on

2688/18 but

0.0

However we may

Any further communication should be addressed to--

THE SECRETARY,

And the following letter and number should be quoted:-

CRV/C/521.

2634

MUNITIONS OF WAR,

8942

WHITEHALL PLACE,

LONDON, S.W.1.

RECS

Telegraphic Address: Munorgize, London. Telephone Number: Victoria, 8700.

as they

are amocious for a reply

REG 1 18 19

O

February 1919.

Curd

20/2/18

sir.

Hol

21.219 alonce

I am directed by the Minister of Munitions to refer to your latte 5709/19 of the 29th January 6072/1919 of the 29th January and 5970/1919 of the 30th January, concerning the export of wolfram from Hong Kong.

As regards the proposed export of Chinese wolfram to Stockholm, I am to state, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that Lord Inverforth would, from the point of view of his Department, see no objection to this export taking place either via British ports or direct to Sweden.

It is assumed however, that before any facilities for this export are given, the opinion of the Minister of Blockade will be obtained.

With reference to the proposed shipment of 28 tons of wolfram mined in British territory, I am to state that this Department would be prepared to purchase this shipment at the current price at which all ore produced within the British Empire is purchased, provided that satisfactory evidence of the kind indicated in this Department's letter CRV/C/521 of the 14th December, were forthcoming, that the 28tons in question have in fact been produced in British territory.

As regards the proposal to export 480 piculs of Chinese wolfram from Hong Kong to Singapore, I am to state that Lord Inverforth does not consider it desirable that this shipment should take place, as the only motive he can see for such a shipment would be the desire to re-ship the ore, if possible, from Singapore to this Country, passing it off as British ore.

I am

sir,

The Under Secretary of State. COLONIAL OFFICE,

S.W.1.

Your obedient Servant,

WHC att

for Assistant Secretary

+