CO129-583-9 Pte David Eckford- transfer to England to serve term of life imprisonment 16-9-1940 - 4-12-1940 — Page 6

FROM

53524/151/60

COPY FOR REGISTRATION

TELEGRAM O.A.G.

D. 26th November, 1940

4t

STRAITS SETTLEMENTS

R. 26th

23.35 hrs.

(2)

52006/40

(4) IMS

in are

No. 904. S.S. PRIVATE.

David Eckford serving life sentence for murder committed in Shanghai now lodged in convict prison at Singapore awaiting transport to England under Article No. 70 China Order in Council 1925. Foreign Office telegram No. 47 addressed to Shanghai refers, Local Government unable to make special escort arrangements for contimance of journey to England. Suggestion that Eckford travels under the same escort to be provided for Loveday see my telegram G.H. Secret No. 335 is not entertained by War Office on grounds that responsibility is on Governor under Colonial Prisoners Removal Act.

I should be grateful if you could ohtain co-operation of the War Office to use Loveday escort in due course. Highly undesirable to retain Eckford in tropical prison for a long period and during the war provision of civil escort impossible. Colonial Government offers to share cost of escort.

Received

in Registry

NOV 1940