4
if
END
REAR ADMIRAL CUNNINGHAM suggested that the
Commander in Chief might be asked to give favourable
consideration to assisting the evacuation of the Esthonians
in Shanghai to the number of about 120.
THE LORD PRESIDENT thought that any assistance
that we might give to the Nationals of other Powers should
be confined to the smaller nations, which were unable to
help themselves.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES observed
that accommodation in Hong Kong was very tight and that we
would soon be reaching saturation point there. Would it
not be possible to approach the United States of America
with a request to permit evacuation to Manila?
CONCLUSION 4.
IT WAS AGREED
(a) That the Secretary of State for the Colonies should ascertain the position as regards the accommodation of refugees at Hong Kong.
(b) That the Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs should take up the question of whether the United States Government would be prepared to receive a number of refugees from Shanghai at Manila.
(c) That the Naval Commander in Chief should be
requested to give favourable consideration to the possibility of assisting the evacuation of Nationals of those small Powers who were unable to help themselves, provided that this did not interfere with the evacuation of British Nationals.