CO129-585-10 Assembly of aeroplanes in Hong Kong 8-1-1940 - 31-7-1940 — Page 48

In any further communication on this subject, please quote

No. F 2535/80/10

and address-

not to any person by name

but to

"The Under-Secretary of State,"

Foreign Office,

London, S.W.1.

Sir,

FOREIGN Office.

48

14

S.W.1.

19th April, 1940.

I am directed by Viscount Halifax to refer to

12. Colonial office letter No.53846/40 of the 10th April on the

subject of the request of the Inter-Continent Corporation

for permission to assemble four aircraft in Hong Kong for

delivery to the Chinese Government.

2. Lord Halifax notes that the Civil Superintendent

of the Aerodrome gave an assurance to the American firm

which the latter interpreted as permission to assemble the

aircraft in Hong Kong, and that in the Governor's opinion the

firm's misunderstanding of the position was genuine.

On these grounds the Governor recommends a reconsideration

of the decision not to grant permission for the assembly in

Hong Kong of four American aircraft for China.

3. The Cabinet decision on this question was based

on grounds of the relations between this country and Japan,

and Lord Halifax regrets therefore that he cannot recommend

that the considerations mentioned in the previous paragraph

form sufficient ground for making an exception in the present

case, particularly at a moment when negotiations for the

control of contraband in transit to Germany via Japanese

territory are about to be opened with the Japanese Government.

A copy of this letter has been sent to the Air

4.

Ministry.

The Under-Secretary of State,

Colonial Office.

I am,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

Clarke

Ashley Charbin