CO537-4999 — Page 123

ww Paskin.

128.

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Wir. Watson

I arranged for

this mininte

you.

AJBOsborne

20/6

to be returned to

On Wednesday 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 Far East".

This question was referred to at a meeting the other day under the Chairmanship of Sir Norman Brook and there was considerable discussion es to what Mr. Alexander should say. In particular the question was raised whether he should take this opportunity of stating that reinforcements are being sent to Hong Kong, additional to those which he announced in his statement in the House of Commons on 5th May. Hitherto the view has prevailed that nothing should be said about these further reinforcements,largely in order to avoid putting the Chinese Communists 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 (i.e. a direct military attack on Hong Kong). In this connection I annex a telegram from the Governor reporting a conversation which he had with Mr. Alexander.

hat At first the prevailing view of the meeting was the fact that further reinforcements are being sent is bound to become known in this country (as and when further units are placed under orders) and in Hong Kong (when preparations are made for their accommodation). It was suggested that it was much better that the knowledge of the sending of further reinforcements should come about in this way, than that there should be further public statements by Ministers which would give rise to a further spate of undesirability publicity.

After considerable discussion however the prevailing view was that if Ministers do not volunteer some statement, there may be questions in Parliament, to which they would have to reply, in which they might be forced to say more than they would wish. It was therefore thought that

in reply to this question on Wednesday, the Minister of Defence should say, quite shortly, that, as a result of his personal visit to Hong Hong it had now been decided to send further reinforcements. After that, Ministers would clamp down on any further statements and would

ride off any Parliamentary question by reference to what Mr. Alexander says on Wednesday.

Unfortunately this question has to be answered before the Cabinet meeting on Thursday at which the whole question of Hong Kong will again be considered. It was therefore agreed that a draft reply for Mr. Alexander, should be prepared and sent in advance for concurrence to the Colonial Office, the Foreign Office and the C.R.0., before submission to the Prime Minister.

I should be glad if you would ascertain from the Private Secretary at the Ministry of Defence whether this draft reply is now available.

UP.

20 June 49.

P.S. Since dictating this minute I have seen