CO537-5001 — Page 7

If

to support the Governor's view in the form in which he submitted it in the despatch at No. 1, and as I have quoted at X above. If we could be sure that our show of force in Hong Kong will achieve its object of deterring an external attack on the Colony, then the Governor's thesis would be right. But we cannot be sure that our show of force will have this effect; and we must therefore be prepared for such an attack. this is accepted than it seems to me that we must evolve some such formula as that suggested at Nos. 3 and 4. Put shortly this can be said to be "in considering any defensive measures to be taken in Hong Kong we must consider their possible effects on Hong Kong as a trading centre, but mm, in present circumstances, in the event of a difference of opinion between the military and civil authorities as to the timing of any major security measure, the military views should prevail".

I had not intended submitting these papers to higher authority again until after the meeting of the Chiefs of Staff next Wednesday, but the Secretary of State has now told me that General Ritchie is coming to see him on Monday afternoon next, when the matters for discussion will inevitably be the differences of approach of Sir A. Grantham and the military authorities, these matters; and the consequential view of General Ritchie that the Civil Governor should be replaced by a Service Governor,

to

Given that we

26 May 49.

must take

a chance,

it is clearly more undeniable to

chance with the security of

them with it,

trade.

Developments mud obviously be

taka

the Colora

dont with ad hoc

07

They can

But as a

Guiding Principle I cannot

ouffert long improvement upon.

Parin's formula.

her

I hope, however, that the Governa

will not press his thesis to the point

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desags cement

be resolved

which could only

by his umoval

1.1.8.27/5