N 6772/1485/38 Restricted.
Jear Scarlett,
RECEIVED
26 JUN 1948
C. O. REGY
531 91 3
FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.1.
23rd June 1948.
Anand (7)
Please refer to your letter to Rae, No: 55136/24/38 of the 9th June enclosing a copy of a letter which you have received from Hong Kong on the subject of two Russian ships, the Svirstroi and Simferopol, which are rotting in the harbour there.
There has still been no response from the Russians in answer to the claim for expenses put in last year by our Embassy in Moscow, and I agree that the chances of our getting any are remote. Before, however, we agree to the suggestion made by Hong Kong that the Colonial authorities should dispose of the ships, there are two points which we think should be cleared up first.
In the first place, it appears from a letter which we have received from the Ministry of Transport that the Russians themselves are according to the Ministry of Transport representatives there, negotiating with prospective local purchasers, Guimaraes Limited for the sale of the vessels for scrap. In the second place, it appears from a Note from the Soviet Embassy dated the 16th March, a copy of which I enclose, that the Russians are claiming compensation for these vessels, having, upon their own showing, abandoned all interest in favour of the insurers.
E.W.A. Scarlett, Esq. Colonial Office.
We/
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