711.00111 Armament Control/1–2948
Memorandum by Mr. Robert N. Margrave, of the Munitions Division
The Munitions Division received a letter from the Commercial Commodities Company, Inc.,71 of Los Angeles with respect to an inquiry from the Kwangsi Government, south China, for a quantity of munitions, [Page 32] including 5,000 TSMG,72 2,000 .22 caliber carbines, 1,000 .45 caliber Colt automatics, 2,000 .38 caliber revolvers, and ammunition for these. In response to a memorandum, Mr. Ringwalt, CA, stated that, while he perceived no objection to the sale of this matériel to the Kwangsi Provincial Government, that approval was contingent upon the approval of the Chinese Embassy.
Accordingly on February 24, 1948, I contacted General Pee, Chinese Military Attaché, and Dr. Tan, Minister at the Chinese Embassy. They informed me that they were most desirous of checking this matter with their own Government and requested that the Department hold up action on the request until they had an opportunity to make that check. It was agreed that General Pee would inform me of the result of the investigation within two weeks.
On March 10, 1948, General Pee informed me that the Chinese Government and Embassy does not approve of the proposed munitions export to the Kwangsi Government and requested the cooperation of the Department in not approving such an export. I informed him that the Department was very glad to receive this information and would proceed accordingly.