CO129-571-16 New Territories 13-4-1938 - 12-12-1938 — Page 64

Any further communication should be addressed to:-

The Secretary of the Admiralty,

London, S.W.1.

quoting" M.05951/38. "

NATIONAL

UN-FOR

DISABLED

CHEME

MEN

SECRE T.

42

Admiralty, S.W.1.

18th October,

193 8

Sir,

(34)

With reference to your letter No. 53852/38 of 4th

October, 1938, concerning the possibility of negotiating with

the Chinese Government for the extension of the present lease

of the New Territories of Hong Kong, I am commanded by My Lords

Commissioners of the Admiralty to acquaint you, for the

information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, that it

was not their intention that this matter should be submitted to

the Committee of Imperial Defence as a question requiring their

decision, either as a matter of urgency or otherwise.

2.

My Lords desired to suggest merely that the report

of the Inter-Departmental meeting held on 26th August should be

sent, with copies of any subsequent correspondence bearing on

its conclusions, to the Committee of Imperial Defence, in order

that that body should have an opportunity of satisfying

themselves, if they so desired, that the conclusions of the

meeting were fully justified.

3.

At the same time, however, if the other Departments

concerned prefer it, My Lords would have no objection to

proceeding by way of an agreed Inter-Departmental Memorandum,

as suggested in your letter.

4.

Copies of this letter are being sent to the Foreign

Office, War Office, Air Ministry, Treasury and Board of Trade.

The Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office,

,S.W.1.

I am, Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

SAPhillips

JF