CO_968_451_DEFENCE_OF_HONG_KONG_1955_1956 — Page 129

28/12

File No..

DEF 75/51/01

105 Eur A.

Page 129 154

Page Y

107

O'Neill

Mr.

Howard-Drake

29/12

Mr.

Permt. U.S. of S.

Armitage-Smith 30/12

Mr.

Parly. U.S. of S.

Mr.

Ashton 173 (reca. 173)

Mr. Mackintosh

Mr. Bennett

Sir J. Martin 23

16/ 73

Minister of State

Secretary of State

21 March, 1956

Your Reference..

Date.............

2 DRAFT

TOP SECRET AND PERSONAL

S

Sir Alexander Grantham, GCMG,

Government House,

Victoria,

For Sir J. Martin's signature

3

Hong Kong.

e. g. (59)

FURTHER ACTION

Софий

106

J.R. Dimix (Admin)

Carve (Foreyn office

Jr.

(97)

only

You will remember that, following/talką

which Sugden had had with Admiral Pride we had

correspondence in February, 1955, about American

assistance in the defence of Hong Kong.

2.

Sumi

from th Admvally af that

We have new heard that there was further

discussion on the subject at an informal meeting

between the First Sea Lord and the United States

Chief of Naval Operations during the former's visit

to the U.S. late last year, In the discussion

the U.S. naval authorities confirmed that, while

their policy is not to be committed formally to

the defence of Hong Kong, U.S. naval aid would be

forthcoming, so far as circumstances at the time

The Americans permitted, if you asked for it.

said that air support would be provided from

U.S. carriers but that. this could only be effective

if certain equipment, not held in the United Kingdom

and only available from U.S. sources, was available

in Hong Kong. The equipment would be required to

enable U.S. aircraft to be identified and

controlled from Hong Kong and to facilitate support

of the army at night or in bad weather.

The

U.S. Chief of Naval Operations said that this

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