CO537-(205_1260-1262) — Page 594

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COPY FOR SECRET RECORD IN THE DEPARTMENT.

abrast on 130 23 27.46

CABINET

ICE COMMITTEE

AINUTES of Meeting held at reet, 8.W.1., on WEDNESDAY,

JTOBKE, 1946 at 4.0 p.m.

| OUTSIDE INDIA

I

7.

cms

Ref.:

CO 537/1261

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES

N

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E had before them a report by

xamining the implications which

and by the Indian Goverment to

is from overseas had to be conceded,

'guments which might be used to dissuade

from pressing such a demand.

ERY said that so far as the Army

demand was acceded to it would create oblem as, even with present Indian forces

ion duties, it was still difficult to find rces to meet our commitments. Nevertheless, eived, a beginning could be made by

ons of Indian infantry from the Middle East. eived had expressed the Indian Government's Indian brigade from Basra by the end of the

Y OF STATE FOR INDIA said that the ken the view that auch a demand would hough it had not so far materialised.

• prepared for this demand and he hoped provide the Viceroy and Commander-in-Chief ents at least to delay this demand until ons were more settled.

NISTER said that it would be possible . Iraq, to put forward a convincing

n of Indian troops as they were there to sts and nationals. The case for retention as more difficult to justify. He asked

prepared to recruit and train local forces.

ERY said that the War Office hoped to raise

recruited in Burma, incorporating a Kalaya, apart from amall local forces, maintain a Gurkha division, with a British tention was, however, complicated by

ther the Indian Goverment would wish to for use in India, Until this was settled, r raising a complete Gurkha division would

da Hong Kong, a Commando Brigade was at

It was proposed that this brigade

re.

drawn but would be replaced by two battalions

he ultimate hope was for all British forces

Hong Kong and internal law and order maistained rmerie modelled on the lines of the

A.

In his opinion, the maintenance of law

of Hong Kong was of great importance, and ion to withdraw the British garrison until ully efficient and capable of carrying out

1t.

TE/

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THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES said

he hoped there was no intention of withdrawing

the British garrison in the near future, The question

of the gendarmerie was at present under active consideration.

He suggested, however, that the War Office, in consultation with the Colonial office, should consider the possibility

of recruiting for either local garrison forces or gendarmerie purposes personnel from North Borneo and Sarawak. He was impressed with the suitability of the natives of these territories for this kind of work.

(a)

(b)

(0)

THE COMMITTEE:-

Took note of the Report by the Chiefs of Staff and that it had been sent as a brief to the Viceroy and the Commander-in-Chief, India, in the event of the Indian Government demanding the return of all Indian forces outside India.

Invited the Chiefs of Staff, in consultation with the Colonial office, to consider the long-term policy gove ming future garrisoning of Hong Kong.

Invited the Colonial Office, in consultation with the War office, to consider the possibility of recruiting the inhabitants of North Borneo and Sarawak for garrison or gendarmerie purposes.

Ref.

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