CAB23-58 — Page 36

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THE EXPORT OF AERONAUTICAL MATERIAL TO RUSSIA.

(Previous

Reference: Cabinet 63 (27). Con- clusion 13.)

5.

The Secretary of State for Air raised

Messrs

as a matter of urgency the question of whether

authority could be given to Messrs Vickers to

quote for the export of certain aircraft to Russia.

He recalled that on December 21, 1927, the Cabinet

had decided not to permit Messrs Vickers to accept

an order from Russia for certain aeroplanes for

civilian use. The reasons for refusing the order

had been, first, that the said aeroplanes were

convertible into bombers, and, second, that the

bona fides of the order were uncertain.

Vickers had now renewed their request. The new

factors in the case were that progress had now been

made by the Air Ministry which rendered obsolescent

the machines which Russia desired. Moreover, the

question had been carefully examined, and it had

been ascertained that the range of these craft

was so limited that they did not constitute a

danger. In addition, the Board of Trade were now

satisfied that the order was bona fide. The

Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, the Board

of Trade and the War Office were all agreed that

from the point of view of defence there was no

objection to sanctioning this order.

The Cabinet authorised the Secretary of State for Air to permit Messrs Vickers to accept the Russian order for the aeroplanes referred to above.

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