893.51/7184
The British Embassy to the Department of State
Aide Mémoire
The Chinese Government recently approached His Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom with certain suggestions regarding the question of air assistance for China. His Majesty’s Ambassador93 has now been instructed to speak to General Chiang Kai-shek94 on the following lines:
It has already been made clear to General Chiang Kai-shek that their own war needs make it difficult for His Majesty’s Government to furnish him with armaments. This is particularly so in the field of aviation where it is impossible for the British authorities to spare either aircraft or personnel. On the other hand His Majesty’s Government understand that the Chinese Government are anxious to remove the Loiwing Aircraft Factory from its present situation in Yunnan close to the Burma frontier where it is subjected to bombing by the Japanese, to a safer locality. His Majesty’s Government are anxious to assist the Chinese Government as far as possible and will therefore gladly permit,
- (a)
- the removal of machinery from Loiwing to a site in India where it could be used for the manufacture or assembly of aircraft for the Chinese Government. These steps could perhaps be taken in conjunction with the scheme already being discussed with Mr. Pawley of the American Intercontinental Aircraft Corporation and manager of the Loiwing factory for the production of aircraft in India for the Indian Government.
- (b)
- the export to China of military as well as civil aircraft from India together with transit facilities in Burma if necessary provided that military aircraft are not in a condition to engage in hostilities en route. To comply with this condition it will be necessary that no ammunition or bombs be carried and that guns and bomb racks should not be fitted before departure. This stipulation is intended to meet as nearly as possible the requirements of the 1923 Hague draft rule of aerial warfare.95
- (c)
- the assembly but not the manufacture in Burma of civil or military aircraft so far as adequate facilities for such assembly exist and the export of aircraft under their own power to China subject to conditions specified in (b).
- (d)
- the entry into British territory of Chinese pilots, combatant or civilian, to fly aircraft to China subject to conditions in (b).
Sir Archibald Clark Kerr has been instructed to impress upon General Chiang Kai-shek how important it is that no publicity should be given to the matter and that the site of the factory in India and all details of the scheme should be kept strictly secret for as long as possible.
If General Chiang Kai-shek welcomes His Majesty’s Government’s proposal and is willing to accept the conditions attached thereto, the Ambassador is given discretion to suggest that the Chinese Government should authorise Mr. Pawley to negotiate the necessary arrangements direct with the Government of India as regards the transfer of the Loiwing factory and to get into direct touch with the Government of Burma as regards the assembly of aircraft at Rangoon.96
- Sir Archibald J. K. Clark Kerr.↩
- President of the Chinese Executive Yuan (Premier).↩
- See article 46 of draft convention contained in the General Report of Commission of Jurists to Consider and Report upon the Revision of Rules of Warfare, Foreign Relations, 1923, vol. i, pp. 67, 83.↩
- The British Embassy on January 7 had “not yet communicated” to Dr. T. V. Soong the views set forth in the aide-mémoire. ↩