893.248/177
The Ambassador in the United Kingdom (Kennedy) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 8.]
Sir: I have the honor to refer to the Department’s instruction No. 1409 of May 24, 1940 enclosing a copy of a letter dated May 15 received by the China Airmotive Company, 444 Madison Avenue, New York, from North American Aviation, Inc., Inglewood, California,74 in connection with an attempt to obtain permission to assemble in Lashio, Burma, aircraft destined for China.
This matter in the sense of the Department’s instruction has been discussed informally with appropriate officials of the Foreign Office. These officials point out that the subject raised is not a new one, and they indicate also that there is little chance of any change in the present British policy. It was pointed out that the present practice of not permitting assembly of these planes, even though they are training planes without armament, in British territory mitigates British difficulties with the Japanese.75 This they regard as particularly important at a time when the Japanese are making every endeavor to force the British to stop the flow of all supplies through Burma into China. An official remarked that he did not think sufficient [Page 663] efforts were being made by the interested companies to arrange for assembling of planes on the Chinese side of the border.
The foregoing was all oral, but a memorandum was left at the time and the hope expressed that the Embassy might receive a statement in writing.
Respectfully yours,