CO129-560-15 Traffic of arms to China 18-2-1937 - 15-11-1937 — Page 187

(F 7064/130/10)

Дир

81.167

FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.1.

4th October, 1937.

Anad. (82

Dear Gent,

(6) Thank you for sending us a copy of Hong Kong (2) telegram to Tokyo No. 14 of the 27th September about the

Japanese offer to refrain from bombing the Canton-Kowloon

Railway provided that the Colonial Government would

prohibit the carriage of arms by it.

We entirely agree with the Acting Governor's views

and are quite clear that the Japanese offer cannot for

one moment be entertained. As he also points out, however,

it is to our advantage to keep the Japanese in play as

long as possible, and we therefore propose to instruct

the Ambassador to return, if pressed, only an interim

answer to the effect that the proposal has been reported

home and is doubtless under consideration. I should be

glad to know whether you agree.

G.E.J. Gent, Esq., D. S. O., 0.B. E.

Yours sincerely

Cr. One