CO129-542-1 China- traffic in arms 31-10-1932 - 9-2-1934 — Page 129

of Defence, Chief of staff and Attorney General. He uite

appreciated the fact that I could give him no recognition 127

until the matter had been cleared up and said that as there

was nothing to be gained by remaining here he would proceed

to Hongkong and telegraph to the Chief of staff. I agreed

that this was the best thing he could do. To the best of

my belief Fr. Brack left for Hongkong that afternoon but

I have no information as to his subsequent movements.

8. In view of Hongkong telegram ho,od to the Colonial

office I had, to commence with, no reason to doubt Mr.

Frack's bona fides but he talked in such a large way not

only of the business which he was confident of putting through

here in one or two daya he anticipated obtaining orders to

the value of from three to five million pounäs but also

of his own importance that my doubts were naturally aroused.

I gave Fr. Prok no introductions and on receipt of

your telegram No.38 I caused it to be made known to the

Mayor that I could give no guarantee as to Yr. Brack's bona

fides. No harm has resulted from his vicit to Canton.

9. In addition to his passport Kr. Brack possessed a

general letter of introduction signed by Mr. Scullin in 1981

and bearing the seal of the Commonwealth of Australia.

showed me a type-written document marked "List of goods as

offered by the Defence Department to er. C. Brack for export"

which, of course, might very easily have been a forgery, but

he also showed me vouchers, which appeared to be perfectly

genuine, for certain rifles and ammunition issued to him

by the Defence Department and these arms he brought with him

to Hongkong.

HO

I have, etc.,

(gd) 1.0. Jamieson

Acting Conɛul-General.