TYPEX
With the Compliments of the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion:
14
93
Affxim
23 JUL 1942
INWARD TELEGRAM
FROM: CANADA (H.C.)
TO:
D.O.
D. 22nd July, 1942. R. 23rd
8.57 p.m.
10
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5.05 a.m.
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S.D.
MOST IMMEDIATE.
No. 1453 MOST SECRET.
до
Part 2.
On reading the Prime Minister's statement containing Campbell's advice Drew sent the Prime Minister another letter dated July 16th.
I have also seen a copy of this letter. It expresses astonishment at Campbell's and the Prime Minister's opinions about the laying of his original letter, and points out that he had done no more than the Commissioner himself did in his report in referring to the communications which had passed between the United Kingdom Government and the Canadian Government. He then proceeds to reiterate at greater length his interpretation of the United Kingdom Government's telegram of October 24th. He repeats that the Commissioner misinterpreted this telegram in his comment, and urges that the Canadian Parliament and public cannot give fair judgment on this matter unless the message from the United Kingdom Government is published, He writes "It would offend every principle of decency, of justice and of common sense, if the existence of a message which gave clear and explicit warning was to be hidden under a veil of secrecy when its disclosure is absolutely necessary if there is to Later on he says be any clear understanding of what took place", "Unless you are prepared to disclose the effect of that message, then the only proper course is to state publicly that this enquiry was completely abortive, because the information without which no real assessment of responsibility can be made is not to be made public".
He has eent copies of this letter also to the three leaders of the Opposition Parties, and I dare say copies have also found their way into the hands of other members of Parliament and the Pre18. It must be remembered that Drew is not only inspired by indignation at what he considers the criminal inefficiency of the Canadian Government in sending inadequately trained troops to Hong Kong, but also by eagerness to wage a party battle in which he is a violent partisan.
10. After reading Drew's two letters yesterday evening I have sent to the Prime Minister this morning a letter the text or which is contained in my telegram immediately following my immediately following telegram. In a covering note I have told him that if he thinks it would help him to show my letter to Mr. Hanson, Hr. Coldwell and Mr. Blackmore, or to any one of them, he should Zeel free to do so on the strict understanding by them that (1) it is necessarily a personal expression of my view of this matter so far as the United Kingdom Government is concerned (2) it implies no comment whatever on any other aspect of the discussions concerning
letter in the strictest the Hong Kong report, and (3) they see the confidence.
11. The Parliamentary debate on the Hong Kong report is still likely to take place tomorrow, commencing shortly after eleven in the morning. (End of message).
Copy to:-
J
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