CO129-573-2 Export of torpedo boats to China 14-5-1938 - 5-10-1938 — Page 34

Telegrams: SHIPMINDER, PARL, LONDON. Telephone: WHITEHALL 5140.

MERCANTILE MARINE DEPARTMENT,

BOARD OF TRADE,

M.

/38.

Dear Gent,

BOAR

GREAT GEORGE STREET,

28 34

LONDON, S.W.1

16th July, 1938.

12 In your official letter 53909/38 of the 23rd June

you asked whether we concurred in the terms of the draft

telegram to the Governor of Hong Kong regarding the motor

torpedo boats exported from this country to China via that

Colony.

Reading the draft in the light of your letter of

10 the 18th June to Henderson, we gather that your objection

to allowing these craft to proceed in a British ship from

Hong Kong to China is based on the provisions of the

Thirteenth Hague Convention; but I am afraid that for our

part we do not see why the Convention should constitute an

obstacle to this method of transport. De jure, I understand,

the Convention is not applicable at all, and would not be

even if Japan declares War although our Foreign Enlistment

Act might be; and this case of the motor torpedo boats

does not appear to be a case where failure to conform to

C. E. J. Gent Esq., D.S.O., 0.B.E., M.C.

/the