CO129-590-4 Hong Kong and Shanhai Bank- temporary transfer of registered offices 4-2-1941 - 8-1-1942 — Page 23

23

SECRET

[Cypher]

DEPARTMENTAL No. 2

FROM WASHINGTON TO FOREIGN OFFICE.

Viscount Halifax

No. 5843

16th December, 1941

D. 1.42 a.m. 17th December, 1941 R. 9.30 a.m. 17th December, 1941

a.a.a.a.a.a.a

IMMEDIATE.

Your telegram No. 6970.

I do not anticipate any difficulty (in the event of freezing order being applied to Hong Kong) in securing official recognition of the London office control over the New York branch. I presume however that transfer of authority from Hong Kong to London is sufficiently watertight legally to enable London to operate on any account which the auxiliary

officer in Hong Kong may have with its branch here or with other American banks, or that funds standing to such accounts have already been transferred to the name of the London office. You will appreciate that individual American banks as well as Treasury would require to be satisfied as to the position.

(INDIV)