893.113/313: Telegram
The Ambassador in Great Britain (Harvey) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 21—9:35 a.m.]
303. Your telegrams number 157 of June 2, 3 p.m., and 188 of June 29, 3 p.m. I am in receipt of a note from the Foreign Office in reply to my communications based on above which, after reciting the amended resolution drafted at Washington, reads as follows:
“His Majesty’s Government are fully in accord with the policy embodied in this resolution and are already putting it into practical effect so far as the United Kingdom is concerned. They are also in communication with the self-governing dominions of the British Empire with a view to their definite adhesion to a similar policy.
Owing however to the different interpretation which has been put by the various Governments upon the embargo policy in the past His Majesty’s Government have recently proposed to the Powers concerned that the whole question should be reviewed by the diplomatic representatives at Peking in order that the embargo may be not only reaffirmed but if thought desirable extended and more precisely defined. This proposal was made to the United States Government through His Majesty’s Ambassador at Washington and was addressed to all the Powers who were parties to the original embargo agreement of 1919 with the exception of Russia and also to the Governments of Germany and Austria whose cooperation in making the embargo effective it was thought desirable to obtain. Satisfactory replies have already been received from the Governments of France, Germany, Italy and Portugal and in particular it is to be noted that the Italian Government have stated that they share the views of His Majesty’s Government in regard to the desirability of extending the prohibition so as to include material and tools destined directly or indirectly for the manufacture of arms or munitions of war and arsenal equipment and also of adopting similar measures in respect to the personnel of arms and munitions factories and the instructors of such personnel.
The diplomatic representatives at Peking are best able to judge what action is desirable in order to strengthen the existing embargo and it may be that they will reach the conclusion that the resolution quoted above sufficiently meets the needs of the situation, in which case it could then formally be adopted by all the powers concerned. On the other hand the diplomatic representatives may consider that something further is required in which event His Majesty’s Government trust that the United States Government and the other Governments concerned would be willing to consider carefully whether they could not take any further action recommended by their representatives at Peking and seek such additional legislative powers if any as might be required for this purpose.
In the circumstances His Majesty’s Government are inclined to think that it would be preferable to await the outcome of the discussions at Peking before proceeding with the formal adoption of [Page 737] this resolution. In the meanwhile, however, His Majesty’s Government will continue pending formal adoption of an amended resolution to put into practical effect the policy of preventing the shipment to China of arms or munitions of war whether complete or in parts and they trust that the other Powers concerned will likewise adhere to this policy.
Instructions are being sent to His Majesty’s representatives to inform the other Powers concerned as to the attitude of His Majesty’s Government on this question.”