CO129-572-7 Application for permission to construct gunboats at Hong Kong for import into China 2-2-1938 - 27-9-1938 — Page 29

mil

=

In any further communication on this subject, please quote

No.

F 2474/34/10.

and address-

not to any person by name

but to-

"The Under-Secretary of State,"

Foreign Office,

London, S.W.1.

Sir,

FOREIGN OFFICE.

S.W.1.

8th March, 1938.

12

29

See on 53846378

9

With reference to Colonial Office letter

No.53885/38 of the 2nd March, regarding an application

which has been made by Messrs. W.S.Bailey and Company for

a licence to construct at Hong Kong two river gunboats for

the Chinese Government, I am directed by Viscount Halifax

to inform you that he is advised that the construction of

these boats which can only be regarded as vessels of war is

open to even graver objection than the assembly of military

aircraft which formed the subject of the correspondence with

your department in November last. He is therefore of the

opinion that the Governor of Hong Kong should be instructed to

refuse to grant the licence in question.

2. Copies of this letter are being sent to the

Admiralty, Air Ministry and War Office.

I am,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

LwOrde

The Under-Secretary of State,

Colonial Office.