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one case, the firm concerned had asked the Air Ministry
whether, in order to meet a foreign order, they could
postpone delivery of certain Air Ministry requirements of
aircraft from August to November. Such action appeared to
be little different from authorising delivery from Govern-
ment stocks, but on the advice of the Foreign Office, the
Air Ministry had authorised the firm to carry out the
foreign order. Another case was that of the Bristol Air-
craft Company, who were under an obligation to supply aero
engines to Japan and who, owing to their ample capacity,
could meet these requirements without prejudice to our own
needs. He presumed that such engines were exported under
licence from the Board of Trade.
MR. PALMER said he was unaware of licences being
issued by the Board of Trade in this connection, but he
doubted whether it was possible to classify aero engines
as being necessarily military.
Discussion then ensured regarding the legal
position in regard to the supply of armaments to China from
Government stocks in the circumstances now obtaining when
China and Japan were at war. There was some doubt as to
the legal position in this connection and MR. EDEN undertook
to have it examined in the Foreign Office. The general
opinion
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