CO129-539-9 St Johns Ambulance Society 4-3-1932 - 30-3-1932 — Page 11

FOODS

REC

D

EL

9MAR 1932-

COL, OFFICE

не

TELEGRA fran Governor Hong Kong to the Secretary of State

for the Colonies

Dated 9th March 10.56. a.m. 9th March 1932

(2)

192623

No. 53. Your telegram of 5th Larch No.45. I have no

*

=

objection to individual volunteering proceeding to

Shanghai to work with the Chinese Red Cross but rajard

it as most important that nothing should be done which might compromise strict neutrality of Hong Kong in the

Sino Japanese conflict. I therefore authorised

Ambulance Brigade to render all assistance to volunteers

but could not countenance despatch of an organised

*Hong Kong unit to work in Shanghai. No control could

be exercised from here over auch a unit and it is better

in every way that volunteers should offer themselves

individually to the Chinese Red Cross, their despatch from here

being facilitated by the Ambulance Brigade. This courss

has bem adopted and following volunteers with an ambulance

and supplies of medical conforts left for Shanghai on

1st Larch viz. two lady doctors, 25 nurses, 32 men dressers

and 10 drivers etc. for the ambulance. I can see no

advantage for sick and wounded in having a mall separate Hong Kong unit working in Shanghai while indiscreet action

on the part of individual members of the unit might easily

embarrass Hong Kong and H.M.G. Ambulance Society in London possibly does not realise delicacy of the situation

here.

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