CO129-575-15 Traffic of arms to China 24-1-1939 - 4-12-1939 — Page 105

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The State Department has also issued a license authorizing the exportation of twenty machine guns to Liberia. The Liberian Government purchased these guns

for ita own internal defense under a plan of which the Foreign Office is informed. Licenses authorizing the

exportation of ammunition for these guns will probably

be applied for in the near future. The Tiberim Coverment desires to ship these arms on ships of the American

West African Steamship Line.

These vessels are scheduled

to touch at Freetown en route to Monrovia.

The Embassy is now requested to ascertain whether the Foreign Office is willing to give assurances that these shipments of arms to Shanghai, Thailand and Liberia will not be detained or otherwise interfered with

while in British territory en route to their destination. I will appreciate your advices in the matter.

Yours ever,

(Signed) Herschel Johnson