CO129-556-13 Traffic in arms to China 6-1-1936 - 13-1-1937 — Page 115

would › Bezred by the exercise of oatrol over the

expeet of civil aircraft in peace time, and they think

the: the policy of His Majesty's Government in this

matter should be exmined with a view to obtaining a

clearer definition than it has had up to the presente

The Tessure for the exercise of export control over civil

aircraft is due largely to the impression that such

aircraft could be readily converted to military une, and

that they could be used fær reconnaissance and other

purposes omnected with warfare.

The Board understand

that it is the view of the Air Kinia try that aircraft

intended for civil purposes cannot readily be converted

to war purposes, particularly so bombing or fighting

sachines.

The Board fear that if expert liemsing

restrictions are applied to civil aireraft on the ground

that they may be useful in time of war, the argument may

onboogtsen arabe o quen tly be applied to other vehicles and extended to

many classes of goods.

Choo that metion is taken there

would be no limit to the list er articles to which the

For this reason it seems

argument might be extended.

desirable that His Majesty'a Government should maintain all

possible pressure to avoid extension of export licensing

restrictions to civil aircraft, at least until it may be

115