19 10. € 3440/445/13
20 F.O. 53447/425/93 (Tel 403 from,
22
Bordad
18.5.45
28.5.45-
Hi
It seeme Possibly that the Ambassador in Baghdad had not received the Foreign Office telegram of the 19th May (19) when he sent his telegram of the 27th May (20). It seems probable that it will not now be necessary for Mr. Cohen to go to Basra. I have spoken to Mr. Alan Reid, however, and have agreed with him that we should wait a day or so to hear when Mr. Coleman may be expected before telegraphing lir. Cohen in India putting off his
visit.
2.
r. MacDougall, Mr. Paskin, lir. Mayle and vir. Gent to see, then bring up in red on the 4th June.
3015
1.). The ston
4/6.
30th May, 1945
FO E3551/415/93 (Tal 410 from Baydad)
4.6.45
Mr. Wikeley of the Eastern Department of the Foreign Office telephoned Mr. Gent about the telegram at (21) and asked whether the Colonial Office would be prepared to pay Mr. Colman's expenses at such hotels as the Savoy or the Dorchester and if so, whether they would make the necessary bookings. He pointed out that in paragraph 5 of our telegram at (14) we had said that the cost of Mr. Colman's journey would be met by H..G. Subsequently Mr. Cohen called, having seen Mr. Colman in Basra within the past day or so. Mr. Cohen said that Mr. Colman was a very rich man and that he did not think for a moment there was any suggestion that H.M.G. should pay more than the normal subsistence rate. This I find from Mr. Lamacq is 25/- a day in London. Admiral Bromley has very kindly used his good offices to secure accommodation for lir. Colman at the Dorchester for a week from June 13th. I have, therefore, suggested to Lir. Wikeley that a reply should be sent to (21) saying that a room has been engaged as desired but that H...G. can only pay expenses at the normal rates i.e. 25/- a night.
2.
-
I had thought when we received the telegram at (20) that we should get in touch with lir. Cohen in India and tell him that it would not be necessary for him to return via Basra after all as
Ar. Colman was arranging to fly back for a short visit. In fact, however, even if we had acted at once we should have been too late to catch Mr. Cohen who left India earlier than was expected. As it turns out his meeting with Mr. Colman has not been wasted since it has enabled him to put forward the suggestions given in his note at (22).
3.
It is expected that Mr. Colman will be here for 3 weeks or a month at most and if the best use is to be made of his time it is essential that we should be ready with our plans.
H. ht
7th June, 1945