CO129-571-18 League of Nations- medical aid for China and reduced cable rates 8-2-1938 - 30-1-1939 — Page 101

Suf all.

In any further communication

on this subject, please quote

No. 2887/120/10.

and

ress-

not to any person by name

but to-

་¢

The Under-Secretary of State,"

Foreign Office,

London, S.W.1.

18.

101

FOREIGN OFFICE.

S.W.1.

22nd March, 1938.

sir,

RECEIV

24 MAR?

C. O. REGY

I am directed by Viscount Halifax to refer to Colonial 12 office letter No. 53863/38 of the 14th March on the subject

of League of Nations telegrams despatched from Hong Kong,

and to enclose a copy of a letter which has been sent to

the Secretary General of the League communicating to him

the grant of privileged rates.

3

2. As regards the doubts expressed in the letter of

the 1st March from Cable and Wireless Limited as to whether

such telegrams are properly entitled to government rates,

Lord Halifax would observe that the Annexe to the International

Telecommunication Convention of 1932 defines government

telegrams and radiotelegrams as "Those originating with.....

"(f) the Secretary General of the League of Nations, and also

"the replies to such communications". Article 7 (ii) of the

Covenant of the League of Nations, moreover, provides that

"officials of the League when engaged on the business of the

"League shall enjoy diplomatic privileges and immunities". It

would appear to Lord Halifax that the telegrams in question

are properly entitled to government rates, and he would

therefore suggest that if Mr. Ormsby Gore sees no objection

the attention of the Governor of Hong Kong should be drawn

to the above provisions.

I am,

Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

Cw. Orde

The Under-Secretary of State,

Colonial Office.