893.113/1388
The Consul General at Hong Kong (Jenkins) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 8.]
Sir: Adverting to my despatch No. 414 of May 6, 1932,16 concerning the aircraft situation in Hong Kong and South China, I now have the honor to report that this Consulate General has just been informed orally by Mr. Tratman, of the Colonial Secretary’s Office, that military airplanes intended for Canton are not permitted to be unpacked and assembled in the Colony unless covered by “Nanking papers”. According to Mr. Tratman, “Nanking papers” mean documents from the Nanking Government confirmed by the Chinese representative in the country of origin.
Mr. Tratman was under the impression that all the British planes recently unpacked in Hong Kong and flown to Canton were accompanied by the so-called Nanking papers. He said the situation remains unchanged with respect to military planes and war supplies passing through the Colony to Canton which are unaccompanied by Nanking papers. Although these can not be unpacked and assembled in Hong Kong, such shipments are permitted under the Barcelona Convention,17 provided they are through shipments and intended for the Canton régime.
Mr. Tratman reiterated the statement made by the Superintendent of Imports and Exports some months ago that the Hong Kong Government endeavored to preserve strict neutrality in cases involving possible disagreements between the Canton and Nanking régimes, and [Page 585] that the Barcelona Convention enabled an avoidance of the issue in most cases because shipments of military supplies clearly in transit could be allowed to pass through the colony, no matter what political group happened to be in control of Canton at the time.
Mr. Tratman said that even if the regime now governing Canton should again break off relations with Nanking, the Hong Kong Government would continue to permit through shipment of military supplies to South China ports under the provisions of the Barcelona Convention, although the unpacking and assembling of military planes in Hong Kong would no longer be possible because such shipments would lack the necessary Nanking documents.
I must confess that I am surprised to learn that these military planes for Canton, or some of them at least, have passed through with the approval of the Nanking Government. It may be that General Chang Wei-Cheung, who was in control of the Canton Aviation Bureau until a few days ago, was able to obtain the necessary documents. Now, however, that General Chang Wei-Cheung has been ousted by Chen Chi-t’ang, who is openly hostile to Nanking, it seems safe to predict that the so-called Nanking papers will no longer be available in connection with military shipments to Canton.
In the hopes that Consul General Ballantine may be able to shed some light on this very interesting point, I am sending copies of this correspondence to him.
Respectfully yours,