CO129-560-15 Traffic of arms to China 18-2-1937 - 15-11-1937 — Page 131

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be returned

to the Foreign Office if not required for official use.]

131

FROM HR NOM

Telegram (en clair) from bir B.

Phipps (Paris).

D. 20th October, 1937.

(By Bag)

R.

21st October, 1937.

12:

No. 628. (Saving).

#

.i it .....

Your telegram No. 212 Saving of October 18th.

I feel sure that it will be useless for me to continue pressing Monsieur Léger about the supply of arms, etc., to China over French railways in Indo-China.

Do you wish me to make a strong appeal to Monsieur Delbos in the matter? If so re must be prepared for him to ask whether, in the event of a Japanese attack on the French lines, Great Britain would be ready to assure military support to France.

In the present acute state or tension in the editerrane an

I have less hope than ever of persuading the French to allow geners transit over their lines to China despite the danger of arousing

Japanese hostility.