CO129-458 - Public Offices & Others - 1919 — Page 419

First ask Teasing they can retum

them back

get them

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Telephone. VioTORIA 8700 Ext._

(for Trunk Calls): "MUNITIONS," LONDON,

Telegrama: "MUNORGIZE, LONDON."

MINISTRY OF MUNITIONS OF WAR.

Please reply to The SECRETARY,

MINISTRY OF MONITIONS OF WAR,

WHITEHALL PLACE. S.W. 1,

and quote reference

No. CRV/3/271.

sir,

405

32699

REL 3 MAY 19!

WHITEHALL PLACE.

S.W. 1.

29 May, 1919.

Dr. Beckett

from the 1/5 Euch. 7.

2.

I have

ALCOVEAL

in sriginal

? how

and copy of

32699

ang

2d1f. 1872

copies

as sengges had in Capt. Wood's minute.

litter from In of m. (12699) regretting hy it was caused by men is of recovering the swell. from the Iy

5

further particulars

than that quis in Co.

and acknowledge

duling and any

we have

업

the Lodo

lius

of

railo

litter

%

10t. Dec. 1918 (59885)

and enclose

copies of the

A

tive

en lonnes to

18172 ache a

for.

C). P

3

9. 1919.

eff dil

wifi aloud

I am directed by the Minister of Munitions to refer to your letter 19172/1919 of the 16th April, enclosing & copy of a despatch from the Officer Administering the Government of Hong Kong, concerning the cargo landed at Hong Kong ex the S.S. "Tokuyama Maru".

As regards the ammunition forming part of this cargo and referred to in the despatch under the description of "explosives", I am directed by the Minister of Munitions to atate, for the information of Viscount Milner, that it would appear from the War Office telegram to Vladivostock, which has recently been brought to the notice of this Department, that this material was shipped to Vladivostook about the 16th April by the S.S. "Vitim".

The railway material, forming the balance of the cargo, was entirely financed on American credits, and any proceede of the sale thereof have to be credited to the United States Government, whose representatives in London have to agree to the price before the sale is effected. quantity now remaining unsold appears to amount to about

The 3,800 tona and is now available for sale, subject to the American representatives approving the price. I am accordingly to suggest that the Hong Kong Government, if it is desired to make any offer for the purchase of this material, should submit the offer to this Department, which will seek the approval of the American representatives.

Lord Inverforth would be glad to receive precise particulars of the nature of the 400 tons of rails mentioned in paragraph (3) of the despatah, for the purpose of settling accounts with the American representatives, He would also be glad to be supplied with copies of enclosures Nos. 1 and 2. referred to in paragraphs (5) and (6) of the despatch.

The delay in replying to your letter, which was due to the necessity of consulting the War Office in the matter, is greatly regretted.

I am,

sir.

Your obedient Servant,

Wtt Salin

The Under Secretary of State, COLONIAL OFFICE, S.W.1.

for Assistant Secretary