FO371-31667 — Page 35

Minutes.

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remain and large numbers of British subjects also wish to stay and enquire whether, if they do, H.M. Government will continue to pay relief.

The answer seems to be that we have no desire to insist on the evacuation of British subjects at present; indeed lack of shipping renders it unlikely that more than a proportion of non- official British subjects can be evacuated from occupied China in the near future, and then only if two evacuation ships are made available. The decision of firms may be affected by the advice given in reply to Berne telegram No. 1329, submitted separately. The first step would seem to be to consult the China Association urgently and through them the principal British firms with branches in Shanghai, as requested by the British Residents Association;

a similar letter could be addressed

to the Conference of British Missionary Societies. I do not think we need trouble the D.O.T. at this stage, though copies of correspondence should be sent to them for information in due course.

A decision is also required on whether the repatriation scheme applies to Indians (Berne telegram No. 1274), and on the question.of destination in British Dominions raised in Berne telegram No. 1352.

Ascott

24th April, 1942.

взуъ беоб

agree with action proposed by 72 Scold.

My: Breitin of Jardine Makision rangers of the other

7:

длу

18

suggest fuck such a

2

maiting.

answer aboun Indians is of

comse 'yes'; bal

They cannot grach shipment in S. Africa, shd this be necessang.

Jestination after him. noth

oluciones people

ماههای

so where lagliks.

GRAN

shop

ASTL

be

донія

where.

repand intily a shipped;

Whelan sarly yeh lô sag

24/in.

There /

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Nothing

to be Written in this Margin.

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