CO129-571-15 Sino-Japanese War- manufacture and import of aircraft to China 18-1-1938 - 5-1-1939 — Page 178

TEL NO. HOLBORN 3434.

Any communications on the subject of this letter should be addressed to :-

THE SECRETARY,

AIR MINISTRY,

ADASTRAL HOUSE,

KINGSWAY,

LONDON, W.C.2.

and the following number quoted:

S.43698/S.6.

RECEN

2-15A 1938

SCHEME

NOTED DISA

MEN

SECRET.

AIR MINISTRY,

21- 178

LONDON, W.C. 2.

2 February, 1938.

3.

Sir,

I

With reference to Colonial Office letters No.53846/38

15 of the 21st January and the 10th February, 1938, and in

confirmation of telephonic conversation between Mr. Cowell and

Wing Commander Wigglesworth on the subject of the assembly of

aircraft in Hong Kong for delivery to the Chinese Government,

am commanded by the Air Council to acquaint you, for the

information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that,

while in their view it is difficult to assert, without qualifica-

tion, of any aircraft that it is incapable of conversion to

military use, they consider that the D.H. Rapide could be so

used only in an elementary sense without a considerable amount

of rebuilding.

2. The Air Council in these circumstances have no

objection, subject to the safeguards included in your telegram

No. 21 to the Governor of Hong Kong on the 28th January to

They do not

the assembly of the three ambulance aircraft.

consider, however, that approval should be given for the

The Under-Secretary of State,

Colonial Office,

Whitehall

S. W. 1.