893.24/2–2648
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of Chinese Affairs (Ringwalt)
| Participants: | Dr. Shao-Hwa Tan, Minister, Chinese Embassy |
| Mr. Butterworth, FE | |
| Mr. Ringwalt, CA |
Dr. Tan called at Mr. Butterworth’s office at four o’clock this afternoon by appointment to discuss a variety of subjects, including a request made by the Kwangsi Provincial Government for arms and ammunition.
Dr. Tan stated that he had received a telephone call from Mr. Margrave of MD55 in regard to a letter which the Department of State had received from the Commercial Commodities Company, Inc., of Los Angeles,56 in regard to a request made by the Kwangsi Provincial Government for a supply of small arms and ammunition. He said that Mr. Margrave indicated that he had called at the request [Page 25] of Mr. Ringwalt to ascertain whether this transaction had the approval of the Chinese Embassy. Dr. Tan added that he had sent a wire to his Foreign Office for instructions. He expressed appreciation for the cooperation of the Department and requested that all future cases of this nature be referred to his Embassy for approval as such a procedure would tend to keep arms and munitions from falling into the hands of unauthorized persons.