893.24/12–3046
The British Embassy to the Department of State 27
His Majesty’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs recently discussed with Mr. Byrnes in Paris the question of the sale of arms and ammunition to China and agreed with him that while the present conflict between the Kuomintang and the Chinese Communists continues no export license for arms and ammunition is to be granted.
The manufacturing rights for jet aircraft engines have however been sold recently to the Chinese Government but His Majesty’s Government consider that, inasmuch as it is likely to be at least two years before the Chinese can, in fact, produce these engines, the grant of the manufacturing license will not affect present hostilities. The Chinese Government have now approached His Majesty’s Minister of Supply and Aircraft Production with a request for Gloster air frames in which the jet engines will eventually be installed. If this request were acceded to the air frames could presumably be used for military purposes in China in the immediate future and His Majesty’s Government do not therefore wish to authorise their sale without prior consultation with the United States Authorities.
This Embassy is accordingly instructed to discuss the matter with the State Department and to enquire whether any objection is seen to the sale of such air frames.
- Handed to the Deputy Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs (Penfield) by the British Counselor of Embassy (Graves) on December 31.↩