124
!
I don't look forward with any enthusiasm to dealing with the Kotewalls or teaching Physiology while there is an active war-job to do.
You know also that the D. M.I., India and Hayes in Chungking have now finally decided that B.A.A.G. is not to be wound up with the attack on Hong Kong and that our chances of having early or certain use of any of their personnel are accordingly remote. I am minuting separately on this next week.
Thinking it all over, especially in view of the independently formed impressions of Sansom and the Bishop I am inclined now to drop my request for Ride, which looked like becoming in any case increasingly difficult to maintain. If he were ordered to the military government job which I had in mind for him in Hong Kong I have no doubt whatever that he would accept the inevitable and give his best; but he would be a reluctant recruit and he would ge without relish. The post of head of the General Administration (what the other Units called the Military Government Division) is so important that it is doubtful whether it is wise to consider any but a willing candidate; you will see the scope of the job from the enclosed table. I am encouraged to pursue this suggestion by reason of the fact that I am sure we have in the Unit now an admirable substitute. I refer to Rowell, who is in my view very well qualified to take on this key post. If it were entrusted to him it would incidentally go a long way to solving the Rowell problem: I have felt as you know some doubt about the practicability of transferring him at this stage to the Administrative Service. Earmarking him for the
head
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.