162
VIA PORTS
to Hong Kong. I remember well, strongly recommending to two vice-presidents of Pan American, who were on the board of C.N.A.C., that the aircraft should be taken to Formosa, since most probably the British government would soon be giving de jure recognition to the Peking régime, and that then we should have no option but to hand over the planes to the Chinese government should they claim them, as they were likely to do. The two vice-presidents would not agree. They said that in the first place the civil airfields in Formosa could not accommodate them--this was nonsense because that is where they finally went-and secondly that if they did take them there, it would be resented by Peking, and Pan American was hoping to recommence flying into China.
A few months later Britain recognized the new government, which duly asked for the planes. The American interests also requested that we release the planes to them. To this we replied that, since there were two claimants, the issue as to ownership would have to be settled in the courts. Action proceeded accordingly: the best counsel being engaged on both sides. In addition, the Americans sent over lawyers from the States, the most prominent of whom was General Donovan, 'Big Bill Donovan', who had been the war-time director of .S.S. (Office of Strategic Services), the American equi- valent of the Fritish S.O.E. (Secret Operations Executive), whose function was to sabotage the enemy's effort. He came to see me, and rhuraping the table, metaphorically if not physically, insisted that the planes be handed over to him without further ado, for, he said, if it had not been for the United States Britain would have lost the war. Moreover, he added, if I did not do as he demanded he would make it hot for me with the authorities in London. I remained nmoved: the matter must be settled in the courts. Donovan's bullying attitude neither impressed nor offended me. No doubt he had found it successful on other occasions, so thought he might as well try it in this case. He used the same tactics with the Attorney- General with equal lack of success.
I do not recollect all the details of the court case, or rather cases, since it went from court to court on appeal. Finally it became evident that the law was on the side of the Chinese government, and that they would get the planes. The State Department, which by this time was under pressure from the 'China lobby', now took a hand, and represented to London that on no account should the planes be given to the Chinese. The British government was in a dilemma. On the one hand there was the law, and Britain had always upheld the rule of law. On the other, she did not want to offend Washington.
COMMUNIS
The British have always been realist they have reason to be ashamed, t covering. So an Order-in-Council law as it stood and in effect made a pass the planes to the Americans. was I, a mere governor of a coloni: what good would it have done if 1 h altogether a sorry business.
An incident similar to the aircr Yung Hao. This vessel had been s and subsequently salvaged. It was being repaired at the Kowloon I day-this was during the Korean Wa came to me and said the State D Chinese Government should not g assist them in their war effort. Í to and let him know the result. The re vessel was Chinese government pr it was unlikely to be of any use, a powers enabling me to hold it. Or brought pressure to bear on the B menture corespondence ensued myself. peird cut that if we tried our officers who attempted to do s the communist crew, that serious Peking would retaliate against the C evidently it was more scared of wh Britain, than of what China might
We therefore duly requisition dubious of the legality of this action airplanes. I was more apprehensive Chinese might take, especially if t operation. Fortunately there was overwhelming force swamped any retaliation, the worst that happene Shell Company in China were taken and that was no concern of ours. I l one morning I saw the Yung Hao on her way to Singapore, where she ever since, beyond repair. No doub London a bill for the vessel. The i Shell Company, for this misguide