CO129-595-8 United Nations Relief Rehabilitations Administration Supplies 10-5-1946 - 1-1-1947 — Page 81

SEORET

81

[CYPHER]

DEPARTMENTAL No. 1

FROM SILANGHAI TO GOVERNOR HONG KONG

His Majesty's Consul-General No. 25

31st May 1946.

Repeated to Washington

D. 3.35 p.n. 31st May 1946. R. 11.20 p.m. 31st May 1946.

Foreign Office No. 259

rrrrrr

ब्

B

IMPORTANT

Following for Government of Hong Kong from Stent. [Begins]

SECRET

Reference Washington telegram No. 3023 addressed to London and Foreign Office telegram No. 4887 addressed to Washington, both repeated to Hong Kong.

Mrs. Scott has arrived here and states that UNRR.. Washington has orally agreed to send emergency relief supplies to Hong Kong to the value of dollars 1,000,000 including 1,000,000 yards of cloth, provided they receive a formal request from His Majesty's Government or Hong Kong Government. Matter has been referred to me by China office of UNRRA.

So far as I know His Majesty's Government have never applied to UNRRA for relief for any British territory. There can of course be no question of free relief, but any suggestion that relief supplies, even against payment, should be diverted from supplies earmarked for Chiña might have disastrous effect on public relations here.

I should be grateful for statement of the circumstances in which Mrs. Scott visited Washington and applied to Director-General for assistance and to know whether her visit and application were authorised by Hong Kong Government.

O.T.P.

[Ends.]