CO537-4999 — Page 7

Reared to 94001/35/44

hetlige Refits haltigling".

3. Nos. 82 to 84 inclusive call for no further action.

4. Nos. 85 and 86: Mr. del pay wish to see these again in advance of further meetings of the J.I.C., to discuss the situation in South China.

5. Nos. 88 and 89: I discussed No. 88 with Captain Evershed of the C.O.S. Secretariat and indicated that the C.0. was generally in agreement with the views of the C's.-in-C. and would co-operate in getting the agreement of the O.D.C. to an alteration of the statement in "the role in war" of Hong Kong. Cpatain Evershed indicated that he thought the Chiefs would be extremely wary of altering their previous definition of the degree of defensibility of Hong Kong and would probably wish to refer the matter to the Ministers; no doubt this attitude is prompted by X of the Cabinet Meeting recorded at No.78. The same point is discussed in Mr. Wallace's minute of 11/5/49; also have been discussed by the Far Eastern (Official) Committee when they considered the enclosures to No.87. The position seems to be that the Chiefs now wish to discuss the whole business with General Richtz and Air' Marshal Lloyd on the 20th May. I suggest that on this matter we should await developments and the views of the Chiefs of Staff (Mr. MacDonald will also be home in the next few days and will probably join in discussion on policy for the defence of Hong Kong).

and may

(J. MORGAN)

16th May, 1949.

91. Admy Gry of of letter w/encs. #

92. Extract from

93.

A.

cos (49)70

6.ti. Mity.

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F.C. — 14/5/49.

12/5/49.

-Item 4-12/5/49.

Item 3

93th C.R.O. Copy of tel. 295 Sec. from Australia - 11/5/49.

94. C.R.O.: D.O.I

94A F.O. Cry of P.M./49/82

10/5/49.

11/5/49.

95. Copy of minute by the Prime Minister - 11/5/49.

96. To P.M.A. P.S. 1/6

97. P.M.S. P.S.

13/0

13/5/49.

14/5/49.