CO129-560-16 Traffic of arms to China 11-11-1937 - 1-1-1938 — Page 17

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be returned

to the Foreign Office if not required for official use.]

Decypher.

FROM CHINA.

Mr. Gage (Hankow).

27th December, 1937,

D. (BY W/T) 27th December, 1937.

2

R.

No.41.

5.45 p.m. 27th December, 1937.

XXXXXXXXXXX

17

Addressed to Embassy Shanghai No.66 December 27th.

Confidential.

My telegram No.55.

Before my interview with General Pai Chung-hsi I was approached by a certain Commander Hsu formerly Chinese Naval attaché in

London and who appears to be in 2 grps. undec.] charge of

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defences of the Yangtse on the subject of supply of certain war materials to China. It was through Commander Hsu that interview

with General Pai Chung-hsi was arranged, and he acted as interpreter.

At end of interview General Pai Chung-hsi put forward certain

immediate desiderata of Chinese government which were later

specified by Commander Hsu as follows:-

1. Armaments.

(a) As many aeroplanes as possible

(b) From 6 to 10 submarines if possible with volunteer

British crews.

(c) Large quantities of torpedoes and torpedo heads. (a) Large quantities of guns calibre 75 mm. to 15 cm. (e) Large quantities of armour piercing shells for guns

mentioned under (d).

2. Training of Chinese aviators either at Singapore or

in England.

3. Exchange of intelligence information.

As regards 1. Commander Hsu said Chinese Government

would ...