See revised dreft.
Page 134
Mr.
Mr.O'Neill 28/12
Howard-Drake MrArmitage-Smith-
MrBennett
Mr. Maskintosh
Permt. U.S. of S.
Parly. U.S. of S.
John Martin
Sir
Minister of State
Secretary of State
for Sir John Martin's
signature
Your Reference......
Date
January 1956
2 DRAFTS S/O LETTER
TOP SECRET AND PERSONAL
Sir Alexander . Grantham, G.C.M.., Government House, Victoria, Hong Kong.
(59-71)
We corresponded last February about the possibility
of American assistance in the defence of Hong Kong, and
particularly about the lack of air support.
FURTHER ACTION
Page 134
2. We were recently asked by the dmiralty to approve
a draft signal, for simultaneous release to yourself and the
Station,
Co mander-in-Chief Far East concerning a proposed local
combined training exercise with the American forces in order
Cequipment in the defence of Hong Kong D
order
to test the use of ground to air communication As we did
not know the extent to which you had already been brought
Into the matter we made some further enquiries with the
following result.
3.We learnt that the defence of Hong Kong was
among matters recently discussed at an informal meeting
held in the United States between the First Sea Lord
and the U.S. Chief of Naval Operations. The First Sea
Lord's version of this discussion was that the U.S.
Naval Authorities have made it clear that, while their
be
policy is not to committed formally to the defence of
Hong Kong, U.S. naval aid if requested by the Governor
would be forthcoming as far as circumstances at the time
permit, (this is of course no more Page 134 0154
(94221) Wt. 42390—6641 5000 pads 10/54 D.L.
on
/in
Page 135 talks with Admiral Pride and Admiral Stump early in 1955). Page 135 of 154
It was proposed that air support would be provided from U.S.
carriers but that this could only be effective if certain
equipment, not held by the United Kingdom and only obtainable
from U.S. sources, widavailable in the Colony. The equipment is
required to enable the U.S. aircraft to be identified and controlled
from the Colony, together with Blind Bombing Aids to facilitate
support to the Army at night or in bad weather. The U.S. Chief of
Naval Operations stated that the equipment could be provided from
U.S. carriers at the time and to ensure that this was xxxxxxkaka
practicable he has agreed that it should be tested next time the
U.S. 7th Fleet is in Hong Yong provided it is done under cover
of a test of evacuation arrangements( the Admiralty realise that you
an svacuation would have strong objections to announcing exercise and say that
the Americans equally object to any suggestion that they will be
be taking part in a defence exercise hence the proposal for a
combined training exercise.
དག་ཕྱིར་ན་ཆད་པ་འི་
4. Since these discussions took place information has been
received through the Commander-in-Chief's Committee in the Far
East that United States authority has been granted to ship a number
of U.H.F. and IF.F. Mk. 10 sets to the xx. Assistant U.S. Naval
Attache in Hong Kong for allocation as follows:
(a) one set to be delivered to the R.A.F.
(b) the remainder to be held in U.S. custody "until the
need for their use arises, either for combined training
exercises or in case of emergency."
5. The object of this letter is to try and put you in the picture
before the arrival of the Admiralty signal which will ask the
Commander-in-Chief Far East to discuss with the Commander-in-Chief,
Pacific and yourself, the arrangements to be undertaken in order
to test this equipment. We have pointed out to the Admiralty that