Mr. O'Neill 28/12
Mr. Howard-Drake...29/1L
Mr. Armitage-Smith
30/12
Parly. U.S. of S.
Ashton
Mr....
Minister of State
* Mr. Mackintosh
Secretary of State
Sir J. Martin-
File No. DEF. 75/51/01
R. 14 MAR 0.15.
Permt. U.S. of S.
Page 132
Fair
draft
Kad-1413
Your Reference..
Date
TOP SECRET AND... PERSONAL.
2 DRAFTS
Sir Alexander Grantham, GCMG, Government House,
Victoria,
Hong Kong.
eg. (59)
(97)
FURTHER ACTION
For Sir J. Martin's signature
}
You will remember that we had some correspondence
1957-
in February about American assistance in the defence of
hool
Hong Kong following talks which Sugden had with
Admiral Pride,
2- We have now heard that there was some 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 recent visit to the U.S. last year.
In the course of these discussions the United State
U.S
late
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 permitted if you asked for it.
The Americans 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
would be
Hong Kong. The equipment/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 that thes.
when required equipment could be provided from U.S. carriers at the time
and
proposed that in order to find out whether this was
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