CO129-595-8 United Nations Relief Rehabilitations Administration Supplies 10-5-1946 - 1-1-1947 — Page 48

FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.1.

26th August, 1946.

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(UR 7112/9/850)

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Dear Miss Ruston,

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You sent me a copy of your letter (54339/46) to Griffiths of 2nd August, and in reply to the second paragraph we rather feel that the idea of obtaining emergency relief on payment is likely to present a number of difficulties.

2. In the first place it is not clear why Hong Kong should want supplies on these terms and questions that may be asked are:-.

) Why have supplies not been arranged for Hong Kong in the ordinary course of events through the Colonial Office?

(b) What advantage is being gained by obtaining supplies through U.N.R.R.A? If it is only a question of dollars is it quite in order that we should utilise U.N.R.R.A. machinery to arrange such supplies?

(c) Why is Hong Kong so short of textiles, rat poison, etc.?

(a) Has the free distribution to Hong Kong by U.N.R.R.A. of the used clothing collected in their Victory Drive not been of material assistance?

3. With regard to putting such a scheme into practice:-

(a) The policy of His Majesty's Government has always been not to apply to U.N.R.R.A. for assistance for British Far Eastern territories.

Miss A.M. Ruston,

Colonial Office.

/(b)