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TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESSES:
RECEIVED
PRIVATE OFFICE
INLAND: MATHESONS, STOCK, LONDON. 24 JAI LOTJ
FOREIGN: MATHESONS, LONDON.
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
MANSION HOUSE 5161 (6 LINES)
Sombard Street, London, 8.1.3.
21st January, 1949.
Dear M. Gruch Jones
OUTSTANDING CLAIMS
WAR SUPPLIES HONG KONG.
You may recall that I last had the pleasure of calling on you when leading a small delegation from the China Association to lay before you a number of points concerning British trading interests in Hong Kong. Many of those problems discussed have since been happily solved thanks, I believe, to your help and guidance.
This letter concerns claims outstanding in Hong Kong in respect of contracts for war supplies entered into prior to the outbreak of war with Japan.
I know how tedious these pleading letters can be, and therefore I must apologise for troubling you. You have always been so considerate and understanding that once again I venture to ask your assistance in setting the ball rolling. I believe sincerely that they are fair claims which so far have not had the attention from His Majesty's Government that they merit.
The attached copy of the China Association's letter to the Colonial Office, dated the 4th June, 1948, sets out the case. The sum involved is approximately H.K.$6,250,000 or, say, £390,000.
This letter of the 4th June, 1948, was written after numerous approaches to the Colonial Office. The letter remained unacknowledged. On the 7th July, 1948, telephone enquiries through four different officials finally revealed that it was still lying in the Colonial Office Registry without attention.
On the 3rd August, 1948, it was eventually acknowledged in Colonial Office letter
Ja No.18895/17/48, in which it was stated "Mr. Creech Jones hopes that it will be possible to inform you of proposals for the settlement of the matter in the near future".
From that date in August last year until the present time the Secretary of the China Association has regularly telephoned every two or three weeks to Colonel Darby (who signed the latter), enquiring whether any progress had been made. He invariably received courteous replies, but it has long been apparent that no action was likely.
On the 30th November, 1948, therefore, the China Association again wrote officially to the Colonial Office seeking the promised "proposals for