CO129-542-1 China- traffic in arms 31-10-1932 - 9-2-1934 — Page 97

Any further communication should be addressed to:-

THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY,

at the address given opposite.

The following letters and number should

be quoted:-

-

C.R.T. 1066/33.

Telegraphic Address :

COLASTA, PARL, LONDON.

Telephone No.: Whitehall 5140.

Sir,

Ausill

BOAR

उ

76 97

COMMERCIAL RELATIONS AND TREATIES

DEPARTMENT,

BOARD OF TRADE,

CHIVED

REAT GEORGE STREET,

LONDON, S.W.1.

9 SEP 1933

O. RLGY

28th September, 1933.

tots. King. I

brawley A.

lejegy

With reference to your letter (No.13702/33) of the

23rd August regarding the despatch of aircraft armament

from this country to China, 1 am directed by the Board of

Trade to state that in accordance with the wishes of the

Foreign Office they have in the past declined to issue

licences to export war material to private firms in

Hong Kong unless an assurance has been received from the

exporters that the arms were specifically intended for

demonstration to the Chinese Government. In applying this

policy to the consideration of applications for licences to

export war material to Hong Kong, enquiry has sometimes

revealed that the arms for which licences were asked were

not intended for demonstration within the Colony but had

actually been purchased by the Chinese Government. At

this stage the exporters have been requested to produce

documentary evidence that the Chinese Minister in London

knew of the transaction and was prepared to issue the

under the Chinese

certificate which was necessary

The Under-Secretary of State,

Colonial Office,.

S.W.1.