25
6. I added that Mr. Sloss had told me that he himself was strongly in favour of making H. M. G. 's free grant additional to the Hong Kong Government grant, of adding what he could get from C.. & W. sources, and of pushing on towards the Advisory Committee's extended scheme. Mr. Sloss had in fact also told me that he thought unofficial pressure in Hong Kong would be so strong that the Governor would not be able to withdraw the Hong Kong Government grant promised for rehabilitation of the University so as to use the money originally intended, but would have to let it stand and treat H. M. G.'s grant as additional. I therefore told Mr. Serpell that I personally thought it quite likely that the Governor would agree with the Treasury wishes as to the use to be made of H. M. G.'s money, but that for the reasons given in paragraph 4 above I did not think we were entitled to assume it and to stifle expression of another view.
7.
Mr. Serpell found himself unable to agree with me. I saw him yesterday on another matter and, having spoken in the interim to Mr. Bourdillon, again tried to get Mr. Serpell to agree to an approach on the lines I have suggested. I failed. Mr. Serpell said that he had recorded the substance of our conversation of the 21st and that if the Colonial Office wished to pursue the line I had taken it would have to be done at a higher level. I have therefore been unable to concert a telegram with the Treasury as instructed in Mr. Sidebotham's minute of 13/5.
8. I attach for conson a draft telegram on the lines suggested in Mr. Sidebotham's minute. The draft referred to therein regarding C. D. & W. assistance will be found on 54403/2/48.
9/1/2
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.