CO129-552-6 Traffic of arms to China 2-1-1935 - 27-12-1935 — Page 263

In any further communication on this subject, please quote

No. 2890/60/10.

and address--

not to any person by name.

but to-

The Under-Secretary of State,''

Foreign Office,

London, S.W.1.

(28)

Sir,

I

Idej

MA 935

), i

FOREIGN OFFICE.

S.W.1.

17th May, 1935.

259

67

With reference to Foreign Office letter

No. F 1433/60/10 of the 9th March last, regarding the

export of arms to China via Hong Kong, I am directed by

Secretary Sir John Simon to transmit to you herewith a

copy of a despatch which has been received from His

Majesty's Ambassador at Washington.

It will be observed

from the enclosure to Sir Ronald Lindsay's despatch that

the United States Government view with favour the suggestion

put forward by the Governor of Hong Kong with the object of

ensuring that arms represented to him as being in transit

through Hong Kong are in fact entitled to this status.

2.

The United States Government point out, however,

that unless the procedure suggested, whereby they should

furnish the Governor with copies of all licences issued for

the export of arms to Hong Kong, were extended to all

exporting countries, including the United Kingdom, United

States exporters only would be penalised.

It would appear

to be impracticable to apply the suggested procedure to all

exporting countries since in the case of Belgium, at least,

no system of export licences obtains at present. Sir John

Simon would, however, be glad if he might be furnished with

any observations upon the enclosures to this letter which

Secretary Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister may wish to offer, and

also if he might be informed of the reply it is desired to

return/

Schey (16) and) to 4. Kong (74) Anet

The Under-Secretary of State

Colonial Office.