CO129-542-1 China- traffic in arms 31-10-1932 - 9-2-1934 — Page 188

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consular officer stationed there, after consultation between

the latter and his superintending Legation. Sir John Simon

understands that this requirement has been brought to the

notice of the Commonwealth Government. In view of the fact

that the present consignment of arms is destined for the

Canton authorities and not for the Central Government and,

indeed, may be for objects not approved of by the latter,

it is particularly desirable that steps should be taken in

advance to secure the authorisation of the Nanking

authorities for the transaction, and no doubt the Governor

of Hongkong will await the observations of His Majesty's

Minister at Peking before allowing the consignment to pass

in transit through Hongkong. In this connexion it is to

be observed that the Convention and Statute on the Freedom

of Transit which was signed at Barcelona in 1921 expressly

excludes the export and import of arms from the scope of

the Convention.

I am

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

Cw. Orde