Page 67 cruiser of the Australian or New Zealand is;
(4) to charter a suitable liner (for use unconverted) when the time
comes.
Course (1) would require that Her Majesty should leave United Kingdom by air about mid-February, being joined by the Royal Yacht early in March. To Her Majesty and the United Kingdom Government this would be the best arrangement, but it involves either a very short visit or the tour extending probably into May.
Course (2) involves retaining a hold on GOTHIC at a cost of about £125,000. The advantage would be that the ship would be eminently suited for the purpose. As Her Majesty is not willing to leave United Kingdom before January, 1954, it would still be necessary for her to travel to New Zealand by air or to postpone her arrival until late February, 1954.
Course (3) is not recommended by the Admiralty, even though Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh would be content, for the short periods during which the ship would be required, with a much lower standard of accommodation than the Royal Yacht or the GOTHIC would provide.
be given.
Course (4) should be possible, provided reasonable notice could
We understand from the Palace that Her Majesty, owing to the cost, is not in favour of retaining a hold on the GOTHIC, and that she would be willing to make use of a liner (Course (4)), unconverted or with only quite minor modifications- if Course (1) proves unacceptable to the Australian and New Zealand Governments. Accordingly, we consider that the GOTHIC should now be returned to her owners.
An immediate decision on this point is essential, the ship being due to reach this country within the next few days. Already there are liabilities for compensation because the delay in decision has prevented both the owners and the shipyard, in which it is intended to undertake reconversion, from making firm plans for future use or reconversion: we hope that these liabilities might be disposed of at little or even no cost if a firm decision is available within a day or two,
A copy of this minute is being sent to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and to the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations.
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(THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HER BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S
UMENTS
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