CO129-573-2 Export of torpedo boats to China 14-5-1938 - 5-10-1938 — Page 17

17

27. Admy. N. 9. D. 1527/28

13·738

In extract from Naval Note (Japan) 31/5/38.

28. 13/7

16-7-38

Ref 22, regst omission from draft the

words

For a British which at the end of

first hora.

20. 17.0.F.7645/34/10

25.7.38

Prefer original terms of draft

30. dny MusŸ><

tel.

3.8.38

& prepared to support 7.0 peoporal

in (29).

I have discussed this with Mr Gent and

RS

m

the office concerned the Foreign Office,

Admiralty and Board of Trade. The Board of

Trade are unwilling to allow any restriction

whatever on the right of British ships to

carry these torpedo boats from Hong Kong to

China and they are unwilling even to allow

discretion in this matter to the Governor of

Hong Kong. The Foreign Office and Admiralty,

on the other hand, maintain their standpoint

and are unwilling to give formal approval to

carriage of these boats by British vessels.

My own views on this matter incline rather

towards those of the Board of Trade and, in

particular, it does not seem to me a matter

in which the Governor should be called upon

to exercise his discretion, since it is not

a