Copy for Mr. Darby
with Mr. Mercier's compliments.
Board of Trade,
Ins. & Cos. Department,
I. C. House,
Millbank,
!;
London, S. W. 1.
39
422
W.D. 1166/48
54453/2/49
7th October, 1949.
(5).
Dear Wickson,
Darby sent us a copy of his letter to you of the 4th October about Hong Kong applicants for war damage compensation who have settled in Australia, The letter was produced by Slade at a meeting which Marker, the Under Secretary here, was holding to discuss a mmber of problems connected with the Extended Far Eastern Private Chattels including the handling of such hardship cases as these, We have a number of others in relation to losses in other British and ex-British territories.
The problem which is not really confined to those where definite hardship is apparent is one concerning which Mr. Marker is anxious to have an inter-departmental meeting fairly soon. He is just off to Brussels and the meeting could not in any case take place until after his return towards the end of next week, It is best, however, to let you know that this is what is being contemplated and that we shall shortly be asking the Commonwealth Relations Office to nominate one or more persons to attend. We should hope also to have representatives of the Colonial Office and Treasury.
I am sending a copy of this to Darby.
D. W. H. Wickson, Esq.,
Commonwealth Relations Office,
Downing Street,
Yours sincerely,
E. L. MERCIER