CO129-575-15 Traffic of arms to China 24-1-1939 - 4-12-1939 — Page 239

Copy.

M.C.I.S. No.

12/1938.

Vigl. on 55010/35

Transit of Munitions to China.

Page 253.

236

The following information on the subject of the

passage of munitions to China, through Indo-China, has

been supplied by H.B.M. Consul General. Saigon:-

"In conversation recently with the Chief of the

Department of Foreign Affairs in the Government General of

Indo China, I learnt that Indo China is steadfastly

adhering to the declared policy of France not to allow the

transit of munitions of war through Indo China. The

Governor General has also publicly stated that the Indo China Government was maintaining an absolutely correct

attitude in regard to this matter.

Sundry foreign vessels have arrived in recent

months at Haiphong, he said, with the object of unloading munitions of war destined for China, but permission to discharge the cargo has always been officially refused. (Confirmation of this attitude is shown by the recent refusal by the Government to allow the Messageries Maritimes steamers Sontay and Yalou to land munitions of war for

China at Haiphong, as I now learn from an independent

and reliable source.

The vessels were instructed to

return the cargo of munitions to France, although it is probable that they will endeavour to land these consignments in Burma, from which the munitions may be able to cross over into China).

It is further believed, although I cannot yet obtain confirmation on this point, that the French and the Japanese have come to an understanding in regard to Hainan Island; the Japanese will not make any move in that

direction provided the French refuse to allow transit of arms for China through Indo China.

Indo