CO129-560-15 Traffic of arms to China 18-2-1937 - 15-11-1937 — Page 20

export of munitions

Sam

Thes

200

think it would be desirable to suggest to the 0.A.G.

that this decision should be rescinded.

? Telegraph to Hong Kong reference 88, asking

to be informed of the volume of traffic in munitions

on the railway and ask for an explanation of the

the 0. A. G anticipates from

effect which furnishing this to the Japanese Consul

on Japanese policy)

89.

Enclone copy

letter

above

Mr. Chaplin of the Foreign Office rang me

up to say that the D.O.T. had been in communication

with them about this matter and ne said that they would rather like to see copies of the correspondence and of any instructions or request for information

which might be sent to Hong Kong.

It is a little difficult to know why the

Company have formed the impression that the Colonial

Government is not sympathetic to the arms business,

and it is possible that this may be due to a natural

impatience at the lack of storage for explosives

and munitions and to the necessity for complying with

the ordinary formalities the export of arms.

The 0.A.G. is aware of our policy and has himself

said that he would view unfavourably any decision

to impose an embargo on the export of munitions to

China.

? Reply to 89 that the Colonial Government

present is fully aware of the, policy of H.M.G. in the matter of the supply of arms to China.

Say that the Governor

will be requested to afford all possible facilities

for shipments of arms but that owing to the shortage

of accommodation it will no doubt be realised that

individual consignments may be unavoidably delayed.

Say that the Secretary of State nas no doubt that

every

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