CO129-563-5 Macao- relationship with Hong Kong 6-7-1937 - 13-12-1937 — Page 52

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acore.

As regards the fifteen (Gladiators (see your

telegram No. 140, of 4th October) Hawkers local agents have

put in their offer and all we are waiting for is a

pronouncement from London regarding the "delivery" assurance.

I have seen a letter from the Air Attachéiin Paris

anowing clearly that the Air Ministry are ready to make these

machines available. In that case, I can only hope that the

required assurance will be forthcoming without a moment's

unnecessary delay. The longer we have to wait for it, the

muddier the outlook so far as our relations with the

Portuguese Dovernment are concerned. My letter to Mounsey

ought to make it reasonably clear that hesitation is scarcely

Justified not, anyhow, on the grounds put forward to the

Portuguese Ambassador in London.

This, as the bag closes.

Please excuse haste.

Yours ever,

(8gd.) £.H. Bateman.

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