CO129-628-12 War Damage Compensation- USSR claims 1-1-1950 - 31-5-1950 — Page 11

(NS 1391/13)

RESTRICTED

FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.1..

20th April, 1950.

11

Dear Chancery,

Please refer to your Note No.928 of

(27) on '48 the 21st December, 1948, to the Ministry

of Foreign Affairs about certain Soviet ships at Hong Kong.

2. You will be glad to hear that this matter is now moribund. The local branch of Exportkhleb has succeeded in selling the Simferopol and Svirstroi (together with another Soviet wreck, the Planton Kretchet, of which we had not heard before), and the purchasers have refunded to the Hong Kong Government the money owing to them for their upkeep.

3. We are asking the Colonial Office to confirm that, in the course of these transactions, the Government of Hong Kong have recovered the comparatively small sum owing to them in respect of the Sergei Lazo (the third ship mentioned in your Note under reference), which may, possibly indeed be identical with the Planton Kretchet. Unless you hear from us again you may take it that no further action on your part is required.

The Chancery,

British Embassy,

Moscow.

Yours ever,

Northern Department