CO129-573-2 Export of torpedo boats to China 14-5-1938 - 5-10-1938 — Page 31

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3.

With regard to the last sentence of paragraph 2 of

Turner's letter, we recognised the difficulty of refusing a

licence for export by British ship while allowing it by other means, but we imagined that the Governor could quite well say to the local agents of the Chinese Government, if necessary, that

unless the boats were sent on by means of which he approved, he

would use his powers under the Export and Import Ordnance to

forbid the export altogether; and that such a threat would be

sufficient and unlikely to be challenged.

4.

If, however, you should feel any difficulty about adhering to a definite ban on shipment in a British vessel, we are willing to agree that discretion should be given to the Governor as suggested by the Foreign Office in their official

letter of the 25th July.

5.

Turner.

I am sending copies of this letter to Henderson and

Yours sincerely,

Slamett