Remistry No 8738/1752/45.
Dear Atherton:-
Draft.
F. O..
192.
28
Mr. Atherton,
I am writing to you in Belin's absence in
United States Embassy regard to a conversation which he had in March
from Mr. Craigie.
last with Strang of our Far Eastern Department
about the alleged discrimination exercised by
the Hong Kong Government against United States
interests (a) by their refusal to issue licences
to ply for hire to motor-omnibuses of other
than British manufacture and (b) by refusing
advances from the Hong Kong Trade Loan fund to
firms whose properties were insured with other
than British compani es,
As regards (a) I am afraid correspondence
with Hong Kong is a very protracted business and
we are still unable to give you any definite
information though I hope we may be in a
position to do so before very long.
As regards (b) it does not appear on
investigation that the United States Insurance
Companies have any valid cause for complaint.
No