CO129-552-6 Traffic of arms to China 2-1-1935 - 27-12-1935 — Page 306

24

In any further communication on this subject please quote

No.F 1637/60/10.

and address-

not to any person by name

but to-

16

The Under-Secretary of State,"

Foreign Office,

London, S.W.1.

(1 dup

deeps)

F

FOREIGN OFFICE.

S.W.1.

302

33

13th March, 1935.

(23)

22)

Sir,

14 MAR 1935

C. O. REGY

Sir John Simon to refer

I am directed by Secreta

to Colonial Office letter No. 53548/35 of the 11th March on

the subject of the export of explosives from Hong Kong to

China. From Hong Kong telegram No. 58, of which a copy was

enclosed therein, it would appear that a Central Government

"huchao" is not a legal prerequisite of the export of

explosives, military or otherwise, from Hong Kong to China.

Nevertheless, the Governor is unwilling to permit the export

without a "huchao" on the ground that some part of the

consignment is described in a "huchao" issued by the South

West Political Council as being for military use.

2.

23.

In his telegram No. 8 to Peking, of which a copy

was forwarded to you under cover of Foreign Office letter

No. F 1195/60/10 of the 27th February, the Governor reported (1)

that the explosives in question were destined, according to

Messrs. Jardine Matheson and Company for non-military purposes;

and he gave it as his opinion that the description in the

South West Political Council's "huchao" was intended to

secure exemption from Customs duties. It is not clear to

Sir John Simon whether anything has transpired to lead the

Governor to alter his opinion, and, in the absence of further

information, he is still disposed to agree with it.

Consequently, he would suggest, for the consideration of the

Secretary of State for the Colonies, that the Governor be

The Under-Secretary of State,

Colonial Office.

instructed