COPY FOR REGISTRATION
CYPHER TELGROM from the Officer Luministering the Government
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of Hong Kong to the Secretary of State for the Colonics.
Dated 2nd September, 1937. Received 10.46 a.m., 2nd September.
No. 169.
Addressed to Secretary of State for the Colonies
telegram No. 169 1st September repeat to Nanking Commander
in Chief secret. My telegram secret No. 163. Munitions.
This matter is less urgent than I thought as I now
find that latheson's representatives in Hong Kong are averse
to undertaking aeroplane agency proposed. If assembly of
machines in Hong Kong were suggested I should oppose this
facility as it might raise difficult political questions.
Transit of crated parts probably less objectionable. Secondly
I now hear that orders for tanks etc., could not probably be
filled for 12 months or more which presumably brings them
into category of re-armaments mentioned in my final paragraph.
I maintain my objections to locally imposed embargo but would
welcome any steps His Majesty's Government can take either
at source or through shipowners to keep this very embarrassing
trade away from Hong Kong. Storage for explosives is alrcaly
overtaxed and their onward transit to Canton is impossible by
river boat and difficult by rail. As suggested cannot allow
British rolling stock to be used for this purpose on Chinese
section with risk of air attack.
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