28/12
File No..
DEF 75/51/01
105 Eur A.
Page 129 154
Page Y
107
O'Neill
Mr.
Howard-Drake
29/12
Mr.
Permt. U.S. of S.
Armitage-Smith 30/12
Mr.
Parly. U.S. of S.
Mr.
Ashton 173 (reca. 173)
Mr. Mackintosh
Mr. Bennett
Sir J. Martin 23
16/ 73
Minister of State
Secretary of State
21 March, 1956
Your Reference..
Date.............
2 DRAFT
TOP SECRET AND PERSONAL
S
Sir Alexander Grantham, GCMG,
Government House,
Victoria,
For Sir J. Martin's signature
3
Hong Kong.
e. g. (59)
FURTHER ACTION
Софий
106
J.R. Dimix (Admin)
Carve (Foreyn office
Jr.
(97)
only
You will remember that, following/talką
which Sugden had had with Admiral Pride we had
correspondence in February, 1955, about American
assistance in the defence of Hong Kong.
2.
Sumi
from th Admvally af that
We have new heard that there was further
discussion on the subject at an informal meeting
between the First Sea Lord and the United States
Chief of Naval Operations during the former's visit
to the U.S. late last year, In the discussion
the U.S. naval authorities confirmed that, while
their policy is not to be committed formally to
the defence of Hong Kong, U.S. naval aid would be
forthcoming, so far as circumstances at the time
The Americans permitted, if you asked for it.
said that air support would be provided from
U.S. carriers but that. this could only be effective
if certain equipment, not held in the United Kingdom
and only available from U.S. sources, was available
in Hong Kong. The equipment would be required to
enable U.S. aircraft to be identified and
controlled from Hong Kong and to facilitate support
of the army at night or in bad weather.
The
U.S. Chief of Naval Operations said that this
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