*
NOWYN FOR DISA
CHEME
DMEN
The War Office,
SECR E T.
Whitehall,
S.W.1.
23rd December, 1937.
16
Dear Gent,
I agree with your cable but there is a point in your
letter which I would like to mention.
I do not agree
that the formalities about proclaiming a prohibited area
takes undue time. You will remember that in abolishing
them in peace we allowed Governor's the right to
introduce them in an emergency. When this was being
discussed, it was agreed that this was a practical
solution. I have spoken to Strafford and I think he now
agrees. I agree, however, that it is a process which
attracts a good deal of attention and that it need not
be resorted to in the case of the Hong Kong situation as
it now stands.
про
Whitty
G. E. J. Gent, Esq., D. S. O., D.B.E., . M. C.,'
Colonial Office,
Downing Street,
S.W. 1.