893.24/5–1149
Memorandum of Conversation, by the Chief of the Division of Chinese Affairs (Sprouse)
Mr. Ford88 called this afternoon by appointment and presented the attached document,89 which he explained was a paraphrase of a telegram from the Foreign Office, regarding the question of supplying [Page 524] arms to China. As stated in the attached document, the British Government is considering the placing of a complete ban on the supply of arms and equipment (including aircraft) to all consignees in China, including the National Government, and has instructed the British Embassy to ascertain the views of the State Department in this regard.
I informed Mr. Ford that shipments of military materiel under the $125 million grants were still going forward and said that, for his confidential information, roughly $30 million of materiel remained to be shipped. I also informed him that we were continuing to issue export licenses for military equipment purchased by the Chinese Government in this country.
Mr. Ford indicated that this appeared to furnish an ample reply to the request of the Foreign Office.