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stor
F3451/177 10 OUT FILE LIMITED DISTRIBUTION.
280
Code telegram to The Marquess of Lothian (Washington)
Foreign Office, 25th June, 1940. 10.25 p.m.
No. 1277. (R)
IMPORTANT.
Owing to the developments in the Far Eastern situation it may be necessary to evacuate white women and children from Hong Kong in the near future at short notice. Numbers involved are 1,833 wives and children of Service personnel and about 7,000 non-Service not including American and Portuguese (latter are not included since they would presumably evacuate to Macao).
Please
2. On previous occasions arrangements have been made locally to evacuate these persons to Manila. enquire of the United States Government whether they would allow evacuation to Manila at least as a first step (it might be possible to remove a number of them thereafter to Australia).
3. Owing to shortage of shipping evacuation may have to take place very shortly and I should therefore be grateful for an early reply. Subject to United States Government's approval detailed arrangements would of course be made direct between our authorities and local authorities in the Philippines.
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