CO_968_583_DEFENCE_OF_HONG_KONG_1957_1959 — Page 54

Ford

h

topnee

Yes

Yes, when wor telegraph the

decison dus- the with wor

hi wit heide.

I

A

C'ler's

theen) Kinanc reactions.

Page 54 In view of the War Office's wish to have information which would enable them to come to a definite decision about the artillery regiments by the end of this week, I have spoken to both the War Office and the Ministry of Defence again. I understand that there is no likelihood of either of their Secretaries of State approving the minute in reply to (240) until early next week. This is a bit of a nuisance, but I understand also that neither Department has objected to the proposal which we made in (240), and that both Secretaries of State have been therefore advised to accept. This at least is satisfactory.

2.

Because of this I have again spoken to the Director of Military Operations Branch at the War Office, and told them that the end of next week looked the more likely date. Major Scofield however informed me that on the basis of the information they have at present they have put in hand certain preparatory measures for the movement of the regiments, and were not unduly worried about the postponement.

I hope, however, that we can get a decision by the end of next week.

3. I also have spoken to Mr. Tizzard at the Admiralty, and have mentioned to him the contents of (246), which has been copied to the Admiralty. He has proposed to the Board of Admiralty that he should visit Hong Kong in the very near future, mainly with regard to the Admiralty plans for the new Navy base.

I said that I thought he might well make an allowance of three extra days in Hong Kong in order to go over the ground about the lands the Admiralty are giving up, and he said that he would certainly do this if the Board of Admiralty agreed to his visit as above. He has promised to let me know about this on Monday. In the meantime, I do not think that we need send a copy of (247) to the Admiralty, and I would prefer that just at this moment (and until we have got the business about the two regiments out of the way) we should not thrash this particular horse too hard. If we do it is bound to kick up some dust.

4. There is finally the minute by Mr. Howard-Drake to me of yesterday's date about a letter from the Secretary of State to Sir Robin Black. I think that in any event we must wait until this matter has been brought to finality, but even then I think I would rather like to hear from Sir Robin Black how the matter went in Finance Committee before advising the Secretary of State to send a congratulatory message. Finance Committee seems to have agreed to Sir Robin Black's proposal pretty quickly, and it may be that in his previous messages he was exaggerating the severity of their reactions. Perhaps I am being unjust, and I would not wish to attach too much weight to my ungenerous suspicions!

алатами

(A. Campbell) 30th May, 1958

(249)

M

примат,

Pl. ou can on

wed

4th Teun A

в

jog

mevidzies,

al

Zold Page 54 of 283

Page 54

2850 To

PIRASFORSO ADY. (Ruchanan) -810-compage 55 of 28359

FED 508/400/06

CE-3029158

251

TRANS. TO

FEED 508/400/06

ལ༥ ཚ༤ ༤v¢s

3016382-

30/5/58

See (153) (254)

Sent repartity

ful for

4.576

I have done a mid-week chase-up of the various parties in the Hong Kong garrison matter, and learn that the position is that the Chancellor has been advised to agree to the proposal set out by the Secretary of State in his minute at (240), and that there is every prospect of our getting a reply in that sense by the end of the week. I understand that the Minister of Defence and the Secretary of State for War have already agreed with our minute. It looks therefore as though we are going to be in the clear by the end of the week, and, that being so, I think that we can now re-consider the question of sending a copy of (247) to the Admiralty. It will be seen that at (250) they ask explicitly for a copy of this savingram, and I have in fact spoken to Mr. Buchanan of the Admiralty who was most anxious that they should have one. I toldhim that we had withheld circulation of this for the time being, but that in any event we would let him know the substance of the Hong Kong reply as it was made in response to Admiralty questions. I think, however, that there is no reason why we should not, now that the garrison matter is all but clear, send them a copy.

2. In the meantime, Mr. Tizzard is leaving for Hong Kong on the 8th June, arriving there on the 10th. I have drafted a telegram to the Governor telling him of this. Its terms have been agreed with the Admiralty.

2

Матема

TRATES.TO

of zon agen

Anhaps zen

(A. Campbell) 4th June,1958

would then the th to hi Shinna to uply to (50)

To Hong Kong

-

Tiel.493 CONF

251A TO 251B

FED 508/400/06

To Hong Kong. - Tel. 492.come.

Mr. Skinner.

5

A. 5-6-58.

516.

6-6-58

On M. Wallace's instruction I