CO129-571-18 League of Nations- medical aid for China and reduced cable rates 8-2-1938 - 30-1-1939 — Page 114

Copy.

(F 1747/120/10)

To. 81 (170/1/38)

British Legation,

The Hague.

9th February, 1938.

sir,

114

At the eighteenth Assembly of the League of Nations,

held in September/October, 1937, it was decided to provide

from the League's funds a sum of two million Swiss francs for

combating epidemics in China. In the course of the discussion

on this question the Netherlands Delegation delcared on behalf

of the Netherlands Government that, in view of the Netherlands

territories in Asia, the Netherlands were particularly exposed

to the danger of contagion from such epidemics. They were

therefore prepared to consider a direct contribution for the

purpose in question, provided that the States General approved.

2. I have the honour to inform you that on the 2nd

February a supplementary estimate of expenditure by the Ministry

for Foreign Affairs for 1938 amounting to 25,000 florins was

introduced. In an accompanying explanatory memorandum

Mr. Patijn, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, stated that,

since the sum voted by the League of Nations would not be

adequate for the grant of decisive aid to China, the Netherlands

Government were of the opinion that they should help to

increase it. For this purpose the States General were being

asked to vote 25,000 florins on account of the budget of the

mother country, while it was proposed to ask for a similar sum

on account of the budget of the Netherlands East Indies.

3. It was stated further in the memorandum that it

The Right Honourable

Anthony Eden, M.C., M. P.,

etc.,

etc.,

eto.

was