893.24/12–3046
The Department of State to the British Embassy
Reference is made to the British Embassy’s aide-mémoire of December 30, 1946, in which inquiry is made whether the United States Government perceives objection to the sale to China of Gloster air frames for certain jet engines of British design, the manufacturing rights for which have recently been sold to the Chinese Government.
Since August of last year, this Government has consistently withheld export licenses covering munitions of war destined for China. As the prospect for a peaceful settlement of the conflict between the two major political parties in China has grown dimmer, this Government has broadened the scope of items under the arms embargo to China to cover such things as presses used in the manufacture of cartridge shells and spare parts for airplanes of a military type. It would therefore be consistent with the present United States policy for China to withhold an export license covering air frames such as [Page 786] those described in the British Embassy’s aide-mémoire under acknowledgment.
This Government greatly appreciates this further evidence of the readiness of the British authorities to cooperate fully in matters of mutual concern.