Copy.
Orig on 1230/2/54 Jen. Sec boky on 1230)1/34. Gender
52
37
(F 9710/G).
Cypher telegram to Mr. Howe (Nanking).
Foreign Office.
November 18th, 1937. 5.30. p.m.
No. 469
Secret.
Your telegram No. 83 to Hong Kong (of October 22nd;
assembly in Hong Kong of aeroplanes arriving there for China):
His Majesty's Government are opposed to assembly
in British territory of aeroplanes for delivery to China,
in view of the serious complications to which it might give
rise. It will be better that you should not say anything
to the Chinese Government, unless and until it becomes
necessary, but confine yourself to advising Malley not to
raise the matter formally since the greatest difficulty
would be found in giving a favourable reply. In actual
fact, it seems to us that a favourable decision would not
benefit China but right result in fewer, and not more,
aeroplanes reaching her, owing to the counter-measures
which Japan might take against assembled aircraft as soon
as they left British territory; apart from this, Japan
might be impelled to declare a formal state of war and
resort to a more intense blockade and contraband measures
affecting trade by ships of all nationalities; besides in
all probability, preventing any aircraft from reaching
Hong Kong by sea, such measures would have wider harmful
effect on Chinese interests. The upshot must be that any
aircraft reaching Hong Kong in parts and destined for China
will
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