ARMS FOR CHINA

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 180, 27 April 1929, Page 9

ARMS FOR CHINA

END OF EMBARGO CONTINUED OPERATION ANOMALOUS NATIONALIST GOVERNMENT RECOGNISED (British Official Wireless,) Rugby, ■ April 25. The China Arms embargo ends today. By an agreement made in 1919. the Governments of Great Britain. Spain, Portugal, the United States. Tsarist Russia. Brazil, France, and Japan agreed effectively to restrain, their subjects from exporting to or Rmporting into China arms aud munitions of war or materia destined exclusively for their manufacture, untfl the establishment of ■ Government" .whose authority was recognised throughout the whole of China. This policy was subsequently endorsed by the Netherlands, Denmark, and Belgium. and legislation fulfilling tlie same purpose lias been enacted in Germany.

With the conclusion of Treaties with, and the recogntion of the Chinese National Government by practically all the parties to this agreement, the continued operation of the embargo became anomalous, particularly in view of the fact that it was to last “until the establishment of a Government whose authority is recognised throughout the country.” The Diplomatic body in Peking consequently agreed unanimously to cancel the 1919 agreement and this decision takes effect from today, when it. will be formally notified to the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs by the senior Minister at Peking. The export of arms and munitions from Britain to China will still require a Board of Trade license under the Arms Export Prohibition Order.