wr. utaon
On -ednesday the 22nd there is a question down "to ask the Minister of Defence whether he will make a statement on his recent visit to Hong Kong and the war wet".
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This question wua ruferred to at a moeting the other day under the Chairmanship of sir Norman brook and there was considerable discussion as to what .r. aluzʊnder should zuy. in particular the question woo roised whether he should take this opportunity of atɑting that reinforcements ore being sent to Nong long, euditionel to those which he announced in his atatement in the House of ColumDIS on oth kay. Hitherto the view hos prevailed that nothing should be said about these further reinforcesonte lørgely in order to avoid putting the chinese Comunists into the position of feeling that we had made them a challenge" which they would feel obliged to accept. In other words it was felt that further publicity might provoke the very situation which we are hoping to avoid (1.0. a direct militery #ttock on Hong Kong). In this connection I annex a telegram from the Governor reporting a conversation which he had with r. Alexander.
Halt first the prevailing view of the meeting wus the fact that further rein orcements are being selt is bound to become known in this country (us and then further units are placed under orders) snd in Hong Kong (when preparatione are made for their accommodation), 4. hum suggested that t wes much better that the knowledge of the sending of further reisd'orcements should cœie ebout in this way, then that there should be further public st talents by ministers which would give rise to a further spate of uniesirability publicity.
....Iter consider.ble discussion however the prevailing vio. was that li ministers do not volunteer ooze at.teent, there may be questions in Parliament, to which they would have to reply, in which they might be forced to say more then they woul. wish. It was therefore thought that
in reply to this question on cdnesday, the Miuleter of Defence should say, quite shortly, that, as a result of his personal visit to liong Hong it had now been decided to send further reintoroeients, after that, inieters would elaup down on ony further atute.ents and would tide to all ony Parliamentary question by reference
to what P. alexander says on ednesday.
Mini ortunately this question has to be unewered before the Jabinet meeting on Thursday at which the whole question of Hong ong will gain be considered. It was therefore agreed that a áreí't reply for er. Alexander, should be prepared and sent in advance for concurrence to the Coloniel office, the Foreign Office and the 0.8.0., before submission to the Prime Minister.
i shoul. be glud if you would socertain from
inistry of Defence
the rivate secretary at the
whether this droit reply is now available.
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20 Jure 49.
Ÿ.. -ince dict:ting this minute I have seen