CO129-552-6 Traffic of arms to China 2-1-1935 - 27-12-1935 — Page 59

Be.

M. CONFIDENTIAL.

Sir,

14359

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONG KONG,

12th November, 1935.

♪カノ

Enclo. No.1.

Enclo. No.2.

Cameo,mjiend. to too. wont end. to B.)_

I have the honour to invite your attention

to a matter of some gravity which has come to my notice in

connection with the trade in arms and ammunition to China.

On the 29th May, 1935, the Canton office

2.

of Messrs. F. Feld & Company, Hong Kong, made a contract

with the Kwangtung Opium Suppression Office for the supply

to them of certain arms and ammunition. On the 5th June,

1935, the same firm placed an order for these goods with

Messrs. Boehler Bros. and Company, Limited, Vienna,

through their agents Messrs. Boehler Bros. and Company,

Limited, Shanghai. Certified copies of these documents,

which are enclosed, together with a covering letter from

Messrs. F. Feld & Co., were sent to the Inspector General

of Police with a request that in transitu facilities be

accorded to the goods on their arrival in the Colony.

In accordance with the usual procedure, Messrs. F. Feld & Company were informed that onward passage

of the goods to Canton would be allowed on production of the

through bill of lading to prove in transitu status. Part of

the goods covered by the contract, viz, two infantry guns

and 2,000 empty shells, arrived in Hong Kong on 3rd September,

by s.s. "Conte Verde" from Trieste. When the bill of lading

3.

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

MALCOLM MACDONALD, M.P.

&C.,

&C.,

&C.