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-3m
tour and is due back at the end of May. His stand-in, also a Senior Superintendent, is competent but not inspired; nor, for that matter, is the substantive holder. Lord Mountbatten may well ask whether you would be able to release Frendergast to help out. We realise that this will not be an easy one for you in the present state of tension in the Far East, and it seems to us doubtful whether even Prendergast could work miracles before the end of May, let alone whether he would be willing to act as Head of Special Branch in a set-up which already, rates a new Chief of Intelligence - a newly appointed Army Brigadier. Our first reaction is that the real requirement is for someone to go out for six months (the substantive Head being asked to take his full leave, which would take him up to August). We are exchanging tolerans with Turnbull to try and define exactly what is needed and suggesting other possible
You may have received a telegram from us by the time this letter reaches you.
names as well.
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(J.D. Higham)