CO129-595-8 United Nations Relief Rehabilitations Administration Supplies 10-5-1946 - 1-1-1947 — Page 32

COPY

INCOMING CABLE

ACTION:

Office of PRIG General Counsel

WASHINGTON

ΤΟ

• LONDON

No. 16930 (En Clair)

D. 15th November 1946 R. 1707 hrs. 15th Nov. 1946

Re your 12816.

1.

Further our 15389. Following cable 4477 received from Shanghai.

"Supplementing our 4030. Discussed privileges and immunities at Hongkong for UNRRA 25th October with R.R. Todd, Acting Colonial Secretary Hongkong Government. Tocd had been under impression UNRRA solely interested in diplomatic privileges for UN RA personnel and question submitted to Foreign Office solely in this context. Foreign Office replied that under UK statute few senior personnel accorded diplomatic status. Pointed out to Todd greater scope of Resolutions 32, 34 and 36 advising necessity of protection for Administration and its property. For example on date of arrival Hongkong attended informal enquiry by harbor master concerning death 2 Chinese accidentally drowned when UNRRA owned vessel struck small sampan in harbour. Scope our operations approximating 1,000,000 Hongkong dollars monthly and value our supplies and equipment urgently requires clarification of Administration immunities and privileges in Hongkong. Submitted letter to Todd sumarizing problem and requesting nim to reopen question with colonial secretary and Foreign Office for authority to pass colonial ordinance extending recommenda- tions UNRRA resolutions to Administration. He promised take up question soonest. General Edgerton asking Stent led his support. Recommend you raise question with British Embassy Washington. Letter to Todd being safehanded you soonest."

2.

On basis Shanghai 2709, repeated London 537, our estimtes Hongkong expenditures in Hongkong dollars as follows : 1st June → 31st May 4.58 million; June and,uly each 2.92 million; August 2.79 million; September through December 46, 2.29 million; total for 1946, 22.37 million.

3.

Have cabled Shanghai we still feel matter can best be handled London rather than British Embassy Washington.

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