ARMS FOR CHINA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20702, 27 April 1929, Page 13

ARMS FOR CHINA

THE EMBARGO REMOVED. GOVERNMENT’S AUTHORITY RECOGNISED. (British Official Wireless.) (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) RUGBY, April 25. ' (Received April 26, at 5.5 p.m.) The China arms embargo ends to-day. By an agreement made in 1019 the Governments of Great Britain, Spain, Portugal, United States, Czarist Russia, Brazil, France, and Japan agreed effectively to restrain their subjects from exporting to or importing into China arms and munitions of war or material destined exclusively for thdir manufacture until the establishment of a Government whose authority was recognised throughout the whole of China. This policy was subsequently endorsed by the Netherlands, Denmark, and Belgium, and legislation fulfilling the same purpose has been enacted in Germany. With the conclusion of treaties with, and the recognition of, the 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 whole country. The diplomatic body in Peking consequently agreed unanimously tp cancel the 1919 agreement, and this decision takes effect from to-day, when it will bo formally notified *to the Chinese Minister for Foreign Affairs by the senior Minister at Pefing. The export of arms and munitions from Britain to China will still require a Board of Trade license under the Arms Export Prohibition Order.