Į
(b) We have no idea at the moment what numbers
would be required. We have asked the. Govern in a recent telegram whether it would be possible to close the frontier and what numerical force would be required to do this, and a number of other important questions. We want, I think, to consider his telegraphic reply before we can suggest the employment of Assyrians for this purpose.
*
(c) If they were to be employed, how would they
be employed, e.g. would they be a military unit of some sort as they were in Iraq? This would seem to me to be the most desirable arrangement, and they would clearly have to have officers who understood their language and their ways, with them.
(a) Who would pay for their transport to Hong
Kong and their maintenance while there? Hong Kong would, I think, certainly object to doing so, since she would regard even 'cold war' as part of H.M.G.'s general fight against Russian Communism. Could we carry such a view with the War Office?
(e) It would clearly not be possible for these Assyrians to take their wives and families with them (Hong Kong has no spare accommodation of any kind whatever, and these Levies 'would probably have to live in camps in temporary hutments or something of that sort when they were not actually on guard at the border. All this would have to be prepared (- and paid for.), and I am not clear whether the Foreign Office might not see objection to recruitment on any other basis than that. We should
of being accon- fomined by this families. The approval certainly have to discuss these points with the
of the Tag fort would? abs have
Ich Homes
(f)
Foreign Office at some stage.
It is unfortunate that the Borneo project has not got much further on than it has. If it was known that the Assyrians would settle down in North Borneo, the question of their ultimate disposal when no longer required in Hong Kong would not have presented any difficulty.
I suggest that, before considering this question further or initiating any discussion with the Foreign Office, we should await the reply to our recent telegram about the possibility of closing the border. The above are, however, some of the preliminary considerations submitted in the light of Mr. Rees-Williams' minute below of the 8th December.
JBL
9.12.1948.
RS. In casual convorsato al luch bony with acron
who has soldiered with middle east & come averss The Assyrian Leare's to toto me that he would not assero them as first class
fighting matinal but if will led - he laid stress on this - quite good
as defensivi troops.