CO129-552-6 Traffic of arms to China 2-1-1935 - 27-12-1935 — Page 380

1

Conies to:

Peking D.M.

Shanghai Canton

H.K.

F.0.

Reference:

375 END

NOTES ON QUESTIONS BRIEFLY DISCUSSED BY H.M.MINISTER

WITH HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR AT HONGKONG (Sir T.

Southorn and Sir E. Teichman also being present)

NOVEMBER 28th & 29th, 1934.

Export of arms from Hongkong to China.

The difficulties with Canton created for the

Colonial authorities by the present policy of "..Govern-

ment were explained. Fortunately the Barcelona Convention,

under which the Colonial Government could not interfere

with goods in transit, covered a great deal. Awkward

questions arose however, in the case of delayed consign-

ments in transit, e.g. when the consignees were changed

from one Chinese military group to another. Samples were

in any case allowed to go forward.

H.M.Minister referred to the fact that H.M.Govern-

ment had been engaged in reviewing their policy in regard

to the import of arms into China and in enquiring of the

other Governments concerned what their respective attitudes

might be. No conclusions had yet been reached. The

question had arisen out of the desire on the one hand of

the Chinese Government to tighten up their restrictions

and on the other hand from the complaints of British firms

that they were being handicapped by the fact that only

H.M.Government acted as regards export licenses in accord-

ance with the Chinese restrictions.

33

S.of S. Conf.(2) despatch of 23.9.25.

(13762)

33

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