CO129-552-6 Traffic of arms to China 2-1-1935 - 27-12-1935 — Page 307

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instructed to permit the shipment without a Central Government

"huchao", provided that the exporters can satisfy him that the

explosives are not obviously destined for military use.

3.

In support of this course, Sir John Simon would

observe that the desirability of permitting His Majesty's

Minister at Peking to support applications for "huchaos" is

under consideration, and that in consequence any action in

the sense of paragraph 3. of Colonial Office letter under

reference must be delayed, with possible prejudice to this

particular transaction. Further, as was explained in Foreign (8) Office letter No. F 1195/60/10 of the 27th February, export

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of the goods in question from this country could take place

without a Central Government "huchao"; and it is prima facie

undesirable that there should be disparity of practice in

this matter between the United Kingdom and Hong Kong.

4. Sir John Simon would add that, while the Governor

is correct in stating that the Chinese Government's regulations

specifically include dynamite, gelignite and detonators, they

also include articles, the export of which from Hong Kong is

presumably not subject to control, such as, for example, wooden

swords and military music.

5. Sir John Simon would be glad to learn if Sir Philip

Cunliffe-Lister is prepared to instruct the Governor in the

sense of paragraph 2. of this letter. He would also ask that

the Governor be requested to repeat any instructions which may

be sent to him for the information of His Majesty's Minister

at Peking.

6.