CO_968_451_DEFENCE_OF_HONG_KONG_1955_1956 — Page 134

See revised dreft.

Page 134

Mr.

Mr.O'Neill 28/12

Howard-Drake MrArmitage-Smith-

MrBennett

Mr. Maskintosh

Permt. U.S. of S.

Parly. U.S. of S.

John Martin

Sir

Minister of State

Secretary of State

for Sir John Martin's

signature

Your Reference......

Date

January 1956

2 DRAFTS S/O LETTER

TOP SECRET AND PERSONAL

Sir Alexander . Grantham, G.C.M.., Government House, Victoria, Hong Kong.

(59-71)

We corresponded last February about the possibility

of American assistance in the defence of Hong Kong, and

particularly about the lack of air support.

FURTHER ACTION

Page 134

2. We were recently asked by the dmiralty to approve

a draft signal, for simultaneous release to yourself and the

Station,

Co mander-in-Chief Far East concerning a proposed local

combined training exercise with the American forces in order

Cequipment in the defence of Hong Kong D

order

to test the use of ground to air communication As we did

not know the extent to which you had already been brought

Into the matter we made some further enquiries with the

following result.

3.We learnt that the defence of Hong Kong was

among matters recently discussed at an informal meeting

held in the United States between the First Sea Lord

and the U.S. Chief of Naval Operations. The First Sea

Lord's version of this discussion was that the U.S.

Naval Authorities have made it clear that, while their

be

policy is not to committed formally to the defence of

Hong Kong, U.S. naval aid if requested by the Governor

would be forthcoming as far as circumstances at the time

permit, (this is of course no more Page 134 0154

(94221) Wt. 42390—6641 5000 pads 10/54 D.L.

on

/in

Page 135 talks with Admiral Pride and Admiral Stump early in 1955). Page 135 of 154

It was proposed that air support would be provided from U.S.

carriers but that this could only be effective if certain

equipment, not held by the United Kingdom and only obtainable

from U.S. sources, widavailable in the Colony. The equipment is

required to enable the U.S. aircraft to be identified and controlled

from the Colony, together with Blind Bombing Aids to facilitate

support to the Army at night or in bad weather. The U.S. Chief of

Naval Operations stated that the equipment could be provided from

U.S. carriers at the time and to ensure that this was xxxxxxkaka

practicable he has agreed that it should be tested next time the

U.S. 7th Fleet is in Hong Yong provided it is done under cover

of a test of evacuation arrangements( the Admiralty realise that you

an svacuation would have strong objections to announcing exercise and say that

the Americans equally object to any suggestion that they will be

be taking part in a defence exercise hence the proposal for a

combined training exercise.

དག་ཕྱིར་ན་ཆད་པ་འི་

4. Since these discussions took place information has been

received through the Commander-in-Chief's Committee in the Far

East that United States authority has been granted to ship a number

of U.H.F. and IF.F. Mk. 10 sets to the xx. Assistant U.S. Naval

Attache in Hong Kong for allocation as follows:

(a) one set to be delivered to the R.A.F.

(b) the remainder to be held in U.S. custody "until the

need for their use arises, either for combined training

exercises or in case of emergency."

5. The object of this letter is to try and put you in the picture

before the arrival of the Admiralty signal which will ask the

Commander-in-Chief Far East to discuss with the Commander-in-Chief,

Pacific and yourself, the arrangements to be undertaken in order

to test this equipment. We have pointed out to the Admiralty that