CO537-(1262-1649) — Page 564

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THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

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restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet. Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright

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00062

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Ref.:

CO 537/1427

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

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restrictions. Further information is given in the enclosed Terms and Conditions of supply of National Archives' leaflet Please note that this copy is supplied subject to the National Archives' terms and conditions and that your use of it may be subject to copyright

to the R.A.F. authorities here, and an airfield constructed on that

site would from the outset be developed on a military and a commercial

basis.

The R.A.F. and the Military authorities are willing to accept the

proximity of the proposed site to the borders of this territory on the

grounds that aeronautical requirements should, from the Service point

of view, as from the civil point of view, be regarded as paramount.

I have already suggested in my confidential despatch

referred to in paragraph 1 that part of the cost of the proposed air-

field should be borne by the Air Ministry. I trust that the considerations

outlined above may form a useful basis for any representations which may

6.

be made to the Air Ministry on this subject.

7.

I understand from conversations that I have had with the

Allied Air Commander-in-Chief, South East Asia and more recently with

representatives of the Air Ministry, including the Air Member for Supply

and Organization, that if the cost were to be apportioned equally

between the Air Ministry, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Colony,-

that is to say, if each were to pay one third of the total cost, the

arrangement would be in accordance with proposals that are already under

consideration for other airfields and would be regarded by the Air Ministry

as reasonable. This Government would also consider such an apportionment

reasonable and it might therefore be taken as a basis for dis cussion, but

I would repeat the request made in paragraph 10 of my despatch of the

4th September, that general approval of the scheme should be given as

early as possible and that its acceptance should be made the subject of

a communication to the Chinese Government and thereafter of a public

announcement with the least possible delay, and should not await final

agreement as to the ultimate apportionment of the cost.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient, humble servant,

huarka

GOVERNOR.