CO129-542-1 China- traffic in arms 31-10-1932 - 9-2-1934 — Page 43

provided that the exporters in this country guarantee

43

that such arme will not be re-exported from Hong Kong without

the written consent of the Governor of the Colony.

3.

In the case of foreign firms exporting military arms

via Hong Kong to China, there clearly cannot be the same

Beasure of control. While the Governor can insist on the

production of a Contral Government Huchao before permitting

the re-export of arms to China, - and has always done so, - it is only in exceptional circumstances, under articles 5,

8 and 9 of the Statute of Freedom of Transit ndopted et

Barcelona in 1921, or article 8 of the Convention signed on

the same occnsion, that he can interfere, whether a Central

Government Huchao has been obtained or not, with a direct

consignment of armo by a foreign firm to South China via

Hong Kong provided that the original or a certified copy of

the original contract

can be produced.

40 I shall be glad if you will communicate to the Chinese

Government as much of the information contained in this

despatch as you consider desirable. You will observe that,

although the letter to Mr. Tennyson Tan relates to Dominions

and Colonies, the note from the Chinese Government refers only

to dependencies, and it is therefore considered desirable

that no mention should be made of the Dominions in any

communication which you may address to the Chinese Government

on this subject.

I am, with great truth,

sir,

Your obedient Servant, (For the Secretary of State)

S

saw.h. Lo Green