CO129-564-10 Aeroplane assembly depot- proposed establishment 7-9-1937 - 14-1-1938 — Page 47

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53548/17.5

CYPHER TELEGRAM from the Governor of Hong Kong to the

Secretary of State for the Colonies,

Dated 8th November, 1937.

Received 7.53 a.m. 8th Nov.

44

47

No.270.

Addressed to the Secretary of State for the Colonies

No.270, of the 8th November repeated to Nanking Telegram No.54

Tokio No.39 Commander in Chief Telegram No.21 copy Commodore

and General Officer Commanding.

Tokio telegram No638 to the Foreign Offica

I instructed Smith to interview Japanese Consul General

yesterday with the express object of rebutting mischievous

attacks and misconceptions appearing in the Japanese presa.

Subjects of discussions were (a) Munitions entering China via Hong Kong: (b) Assembly of aeroplanes destined for China.

As regards (a) points were (1) Traffic is still legitimate

(2) railway statistics show volume inconsiderable (3) Origin

of recent consignments not British but principally German and Italian. As regards (b) one permitted since the outbreak

of hostilities.

Consul General undertook to represent these points

strongly to Tokio.