Sin C. Jeffries
Mr. Watson
in Watson
I have prepared a fresh draft of the telegram which the Secretary of State wishes to send to Sir A. Grantham, which, I think, is in accordance with the line which the Secretary of State indicated to me yesterday.
The intention is (a) that this telegram should arrive in Hong Kong about 24 hours ahead of Mr. Alexander and
(b) that it should be repeated (as in the second draft herewith) to Singapore to intercept Mr. Alexander before he goes on to Hong Kong.
Mr. Alexander is due to arrive in Singapore on Sunday 5th June. He will stay there one night and is due to arrive in Hong Kong on the evening of Monday 6th. Moreover it seems desirable that the same channel for transmitting this telegram to Mr. Alexander should be used as is being used for the Prime Minister's telegram to him (i.e. Ministry of Defence to B.D.C.C. Singapore).
If these arrangements are not to go wrong (especially with the intervention of Whitsuntide) they will have to be carefully organised. In all the circumstances it seems to me best that both these two new telegrams should be sent on Saturday the 4th June.
If therefore the Secretary of State approves the drafts, I suggest that y should send the one to Mr. Alexander over to Captain Evershed at the Ministry of Defence, for him to send off.
(N.B. If any amendments are made in the text of the telegram to Sir A. Grantham, they should be carried into
() how spoken to Cipir Eversher as
(i)
FEDSEC
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