396
PARAPHRASE TELEGRAM
The Secretary of State for the Colonies to the
Governor of Hong Kong.
(Sent, 8 p.m.,
8th December, 1924)
H.M,G,would regard as extremely acceptable and
opportune the offer to which you refer in your telegram of
25th November, seeing that Bovernment has, in principle,
decided that the Singapore Naval Base shall be proceeded with.
No difficulties would be raised by the Admiralty in regard to
the Kowloon Perry Scheme and heir objections would be waived
if such an offer as that to which you refer were forthcoming
the unofficial members may be given this assurance. Clearly.f
however, nothing should be said which would suggest that a
bargain were being made, because overt indication of a juíd
proque is undesirable. An early announcement in Parliame will be made with regard to the decision to proceed with
Bingapore and you will appreciate that there would be advantages in making a statement that your Government have offered help and in indicating the approximate cash valuṛ
of that assistance, if it is possible to do so when the
announcement is made.