CO129-622-1 War damage compensation- U.S.S.R. claims 25-5-1948 - 22-1-1949 — Page 28

54447/3/48.

Colonial office,

The Church House,

Great Smith Street,

S.W.1.

29th November, 1948.

29

Thank you for your letter of the 23rd November and for letting us see the draft of your despatch to Moscow.

2. It seems from MacDougall's letter of the 25th May 1948 to Sidebotham that there are only two wrecks for sale (I think the "Sergei Lazo" must have long ago broken up or become completely valueless). The same letter also shows that there are no charges in respect of the "Simferopol" after the 31st December 1946. I think also, if you see no objection, there might be advantage in stressing to the Russians that the longer the sale is delayed the smaller proceeds are going to be. I have ventured a re-draft (attached) of paragraphs 4 and 5 to bring out these points.

3.

(a)

(b)

My only other comments are:-

Paragraph 1, line 6. Insert "by the Hong

Kong Government" after "incurred".

Paragraph 2, line 1. Insert "1948" after

"22nd September".

(c) Paragraph 6, line 5. Substitute "the above

proposal" for "this proposal".

C.3.A.RAE, ES,

(a)