CO129-624-11 Finances- financial settlement 1-1-1950 - 30-6-1950 — Page 47

SCHEME

FOR DIABLED

083/6396 (W.F. A & G.)

Your Reference.............

(6) on 49

Dear Palmer,

THE WAR OFFICE, CHESSINGTON,

SURBITON,

4

43

SURREY.

20 February, 1950

The only comment that we have on your draft despatch to Hong Kong regarding Denial Claims (Colonial Office reference 54126/6/49) is that we think that the reference to the Service Departments may give rise to some misunderstanding. We suggest that the words "unless the U.K. Service Department concerned has accepted liability in any particular case in the light of its existing practise" and "except in particular cases where the Service Departments have accepted liability" in paras. 4 (iii) and 6 respectively, should be omitted.

Our view on Denial Claims is wellknown to you, and has

In brief,

(17) on '49 recently been re-stated in the correspondence about the Air

(19)..

Ministry answer of 16th November, 1949, on Malaya. it is that Service Departments have no legal liability for these claims, and that any assistance by H. M. G. to Colonial Govern- ments to enable them to meet their liabilities should not be provided through Service Votes. On this understanding, we have, of course, no objection to the amendments proposed by Moberly in his letter of 7th December.

I am sending copies of this letter to Moberly (Treasury), Reid (Admiralty), Prince (Air Ministry) and Hosie (Ministry of

Defence.

Yours sincerely,

Whethelling

H. Palmer, Esq.,

Colonial Office,

Church House,

Great Smith Street, S.W.1.