CO129-504-13 Chinese situation- request from General Li Chai-sum for assistance in obtaining arms and ammunition 27-4-1927 - 6-10-1927 — Page 71

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the supply of arms and ammunition

might be held to involve either a

breach of or withdrawal from the

China Arms Embargo Agreement which

H.M.G. desire strictly to enforce,

and might, further, be regarded as

inconsistent with the established

policy of preserving a neutral

attitude towards the contending

factions in China. On examination,

however, it appears to him that it

would be possible to adopt the

Govr's pro po sal, at least in a

modified form, without impairing

publicly the principles on which the

existing policy is based.

5.

It is, of course, clear

that if any substantial quantity of

arms were placed immmediately at

Li-Chai-Sum's disposal, considerable

risks would be run, since there would

be no guarantee beyond the General's

personal assurance that the ams

would, in fact, be used in maintaining

order