CO129-607-4 Repatriation of exinternees- financial responsibility for passages 2-2-1949 - 29-12-1949 — Page 17

Reply to:-

Re

The Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations

Services

Dept.

323389/49/Passages

Sir,

CHEME

FOR DIS

DISABLED

MEN

5

17

COMMONWEALTH RELATIONS OFFICE,

4, CENTRAL BUILDINGS,

MATTHEW PARKER STREET,

WESTMINSTER,

LONDON, S.W.!.

Telephone: WHltehall 2166

27 SEP 1349

RECER

s.s. "Cheshire".

Cost of passages provided

Madras on 27-12-45.

for 359 Indian repatriates from Hong Kong to

MONIC OFFICE

I am directed to forward herewith a copy of claim No. F 3.R (2)/1/ 1245/17/I. J. B. dated the 29th August, 1947, received from the Ministry of Transport in connection with the above sailing.

As the claim concerned Indians it was paid provisionally by this Office and then referred to the Government of India for acceptance. The reply received stated that in the absence of any agreement between His Majesty's Government and the Government of India in regard to the repatriation of these persons the Government of India regret that the debit cannot be accepted.

Nothing is known in this Office of these repatriates or of the circumstances in which they were repatriated. As more than 50% were members,

or dependants, of the Police, and as all were apparently interned during the war with Japan, it is possible that this claim is not the responsibility of this Office but of the Colonial Office.

I am therefore to enquire whether you are in a position to deal with this claim and, if so, whether a Receivable Order for £7042 (the amount paid provisionally by this Office to the Ministry of Transport) will be accepted by you.

I am, Sir,

Your obedient Servant,

The Under Secretary of State,

Colonial Office,

Church House,

Great Smith Street,

London, S. W. 1.

Secretary Services Department

1.

MG