CO129-493 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1926 [6-8] — Page 148

SECRET

sir,

147

GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

HONGKONG. 28th June, 1926.

On the 5th May, 1919, Sir John Jordan, aa Dean

of the Diplomatic Body at Peking, addressed to the Chinese

Ministry for Foreign Affairs the note, of which for con-

venience of reference I attach a copy, conveying the decision

of the Governments of Great Brittin, Spain, Portugal, the United States, Russia, Brazil, France and Japan effectively to restrain their subjects and citizens from exporting to,

or importing into, China arms and ammunition of war, and

materials destined exclusively for their manufacture, until the establishment of a Government whose authority is recog-

nised throughout the whole of China. This agreement was subsequently also endorsed without reservation by the Govern- ments of the Netherlands, Denmark and Belgium, by the Government of Italy with the reservation that, shipments already contracted for and en route might be delivered.

2.

The Diplomatic Body followed up this announcement

by an appeal to the Chinese Government to prohibit the im-

port of arms and ammunition into China; but this was never effectually done. However, His Majesty's Minister at

Peking took immediate steps to enforce this arms embargo upon British subjects in China by means of King's Regulations

and.

A

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

LIEUTENANT COLONEL L.C.M.S. AMERY, M.P.,

&c.,

&0..

&C.

issued

.