CO129-595-8 United Nations Relief Rehabilitations Administration Supplies 10-5-1946 - 1-1-1947 — Page 36

36 2

COPY

INCOMING CABLE

ACTION:

Office of PRDG

General Counsel

WASHINGTON

No. 16930 (En clair)

TO...

LONDON

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

Re your 12816.

1.

Foreign

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. Todd had been under impression UNRRA solely interested in diplomatic privileges for UNRRA personnel and question submitted to Foreign Office solely in this context. Office replied that under U.K. 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 him to reopen question with colonial secretary and Foreign Office for authority to pass colonial ordinance extending recommendations UNRRA resolution s to Administratim. He promised take up question soonest. General Edgerton asking Stent lend his support. Recommend you raise question with British Embassy Washington. Letter to Todd being safehanded soonest."

2. On basis of Shanghai 2709, repeated London 537, our estimates Hongkong expenditures in Hongkong dollars as follows: 1st June– 31st May 4.58 millions; June and July 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.

NO DISTRIBUTION.

/PM