153
Pickthorn's letter to Dr. Spens.
If action is
taken as suggested above, I think I ought to
follow thie up by & letter to Dr. Spens on the
following lines.
(u) Thank him for having let us see Mr.
Pickthorn's letter.
(b) Say that we assume that he will now send
that letter on to Mr. Pickthorn, if he has not
already sent him a copy, as I think is probuble.
(0)
he
Add that the Secretary of State, for
obvious reasons, cannot take official cognizance
of this letter from Dr. Sloss, or refer to it in
correspondence with Hong Kong or Mr. Pickthorn.
(a) Add also that the Secretary of State,
as at present advised, end in the absence of any communication from Hong Kong, sees no necessity for asking the Commission to proceed to Hong Kong, and anticipates several objections to such & course,
including the known wishes of members of the Com-
mission regarding the date of their return to
England.
ARTHUR MAY
20.9.36.