لا
My dear Gent,
4
24
FOROCT
Colonial Secretary's Office.
Phong Phong.
7th December, 1938.
When the despatch about Waterworks (No.779 of
4 20th October, 1938) went off I sent you, by the same mail
as far as I know, a short note to assure you that the question of Purves' succession to the post of Director of
Public Works had been kept in mind in that context; and I
think I said that the latter subject was being kept rather
more than confidential in view of the position of other
possible candidates and especially Tickle. We were therefore rather surprised to see the appointment of Purves writ large in the list of "Recent Appointments and Promotions" which came out with the circular note of 9th November; and the
local press of course had it immediately.
No great harm was done and this is not really a complaint; but I think you will want to know about it, as someone has presumably treated as an ordinary promotion
what was intended to be the final stage of a complicated
series culminating nearly a year hence.
Yours sincerely,
G.E.J. Gent, Esq., 0.B.E., D.S.O., M.C.,
Colonial Office,
London.
N&. Sunte