CO537-3708 — Page 2

1. 6. of. Exchequer

166.

1.48

(1)

we have

Mr. Seer

Hong Kong Kowloon City Evictions

I am sending forward separately the attached copy of a letter from Sir Stafford Cripps' Private Secretary to the Private Secretary, Foreign Office, enclosing copy of a telegram which Sir Stafford has received from one of his Chinese friends in Nanking, and asking for further information.

I have discussed this with Mr. Scarlett of the Foreign Office, who thinks that the best plan would be for the Foreign Office and the Colonial Office to send separate letters to Sir Stafford Cripps' Private Secretary. I see no objection to this procedure. Mr. Scarlett proposes to advise that the Foreign Office reply should give a brief account of the events in China and should go on to point out the difficulties and embarrassment which is likely to be caused by a continuation of this correspondence, in view of the fact that Sir Stafford Cripps' correspondent is a member of the Chinese Government. I told Mr. Scarlett that I was proposing to suggest that we should send a short statement of the facts relating to the Kowloon City evictions and take the line that if Sir Stafford Cripps finds it necessary to send a reply to his Chinese correspondent, he will feel able to say that from the enquiries which he has made, he is quite satisfied as to the justification for the eviction of the squatters, and that the Hong Kong Government acted throughout in a reasonable and proper manner. Mr. Scarlett thought that this would be quite satisfactory from their point of view and did not wish to be consulted about the terms of the draft or the statement beforehand. They will of course get a copy of the letter and enclosure as sent.

In accordance with the above, I submit a draft to Sir Stafford Cripps' Private Secretary, together with a copy of the note for enclosure with it.

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