CO129-575-15 Traffic of arms to China 24-1-1939 - 4-12-1939 — Page 121

London, October 2, 1939.

My dear Nigel:

(1440)

I refer to your letter, No. F 10108/28/10 of

September 13th and to Ashley Clarke's letter, No.

F 10283/28/10 of September 23rd, regarding the oral

inquiry I made of you on September 11th us to the

shipment of arms from the United States to China

via French Indo China and furaa. The assurances con-

tained in Clarke's letter of September 23rd were, of

course, communicated to my Government and the Embassy

has received a reply in the following sense:

In view of the assurances received from the

Foreign office, the Department of State is instructing Collectors of Customs to permit the departure of ship-

rents of arms consigned to the Government of China

via Fangoon which have been held at ports of exit.

The Department is also resuming the issuance of licenses

authorizing such shipments.

The Department has noted

Nigel B. Fonald, Esq.,

Foreign office, 9.7.1.

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