COPY.
(F.5448/9/10)
sir,
241
FOREIGN OFFICE,
S.W.1.
25th August, 1937.
I am directed by Viscount Halifax to state for the
information of the Board that the Firest Secretary of the
Japanese Embassy called at this department on the 19th August
and said that the Japanese Government were anxious to collect
information regarding the powers of various foreign countries
to control the export of arms and ammunition. He was
informed what procedure was followed in the United Kingdom in
the matter of foreign orders for arms.
2.
He then enquired what was being done in regard to
orders from China at the present time. He was informed in
reply that orders from the Chinese or Japanese Governments
were being treated in accordance with the normal procedure.
Two fairly large orders had recently been received from Japan,
one for Lewis guns and the other for armour-piercing
ammunition:
aeroplanes.
from China had come an order for 20 unarmed
To neither of these had any objection been
raised and it was not anticipated that exception would be
taken to the grant of export licences in regard to orders from
either country until further notice, always provided that these
orders were for goods to be supplied by private firms and not
from government stocks. For some months discouraging replies
had been returned to foreign governments who desired to place
orders for arms and ammunition in this country; there were
only a few categories or armaments which were available for
sale, as manufacturers were occupied with orders for His
Majesty's Government.
If, therefore, His Majesty's Government
were to adhere to the policy of raising no objection to the
The Secretary
to the Board of Trade.
/supply
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