693.119/346: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in China (Crane)
238. Your 248, September 8, 7 p.m.
While Department has been disposed to place as broad an interpretation as possible on arms embargo agreement, and had hoped that materials which by any manner of means could be converted to war uses would not be allowed to enter China, still in view of the fact that other Governments have permitted their nationals to enter into contracts for commercial airplanes, this Government does not feel warranted in interposing objections to its nationals doing likewise in case the airplanes are designed and built strictly for commercial use.
[Page 749]Regarding Gillis negotiations, Department feels that this is a matter which rests entirely between him and Sevenot and the Curtiss Company.
There is nothing in War Trade Board ruling 84198 to prohibit the exportation of commercial airplanes to China.