74
(F.8771/31/10).
NO DISTRIBUTION.
Cypher telegram to Sir R. Craigie. (Tokyo).
No.
Foreign office. November 1st, 1937.
440.
4. 45. p.m.
Your telegram No. 614 of the 30th October: alleged delivery
of British made aeroplanes to Canton].
Facts are that 36 Gloster Gladiators and 6 non-military
de Havilland machines have been sold to the Central Government.
Of the former the first batch of twelve is believed to be about
halfway to Hongkong. No aircraft have been or are being supplied
to Cantonese authorities, as there are none to spare.
On the basis of the above, but without disclosing details,
you may deny press reports if you think this really desirable. But I suggest that it would be wiser to appeal to the service departments to restrain the publication of such inaccuracies, which
cannot fail to damage Anglo-Japanese relations; they might further
be reminded that there is no ban on the export of arms to either
side and that important quantities of ammunition have been allowed to be exported to Japan since the outbreak of hostilities.
Addressed to Tokyo No. 440. Repeated to Canton No. 26 and
Hongkong Unnumbered.
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