FO371-46257 — Page 180

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INDEXED

Duplicate. 160

LDESSAGE.

292351.

CUT.

Date. 29.10.45. Time 2130

THREDITE.

To ..T.R. SOUTH CHINA IAST 108.

Repeated ...T.R. SHANGL.I. HAST 31.

11

11

BRITISH EL BASSY, CHUNGKING LIST 5. P.S.T.0. S.3.4.C.

IPORTANT GUARD.

From M.W.T.London,

1.

F8987/1147/10

6 Nov 1945

YOUR MAST 83 REPELFED TO ALL ADDRESSEES PARAGRAPHS 1 TO 3 NOTED.

2.

WE ARE ANXIOUS TO COVER THE TOTAL OF THE COLL REQUIRENTS „ITH BRITISH CONTROLLED TONNAGE IF YOSSIBLE AND HJHOPED TRJ SLIGHTLY LESS TAN 20 SHIPS WOULD BE SUFFICIENT AND THAT IN ANY CASE SOLE ASSIST.NCE SHOULD BE OBTINED BY THE USE OF CERMIN OF AHA CHUN. COASTERS (HICH ARE NOW BEING ILDE AVAILABIE.

3.

WE ARE AGREEABLE TO YOUR RETAINING THE SIX "SAN" VESSELS ALREADY IN SERVICE AND TO YOUR UTILISING ADDITIONAL BRITISH CONTROLLED TONINGE BECOMING ..VAILABLE IN YOUR AREA TO LUG ENT THE PROCRASE. IT IS I PER.TIVE HOWEVER THAT YOU ADVISE US IN ADVANCE OF IS NIES OF AY SUCH ADDITIONAL VESSELS REQUIRED AS CERTAIN OF THESE ILL HAVE BEEN EARMARKED FOR ESSENTIAL LINER BERTH SERVICE AND CONSEQUENTLY CANNOT BE INDE AVAILABLE,

4. WHILST WE FAVOUR THE PROPOSAL TO GIVE THE CHINESE GOVERNDENT AN ASSURANCE THAT WE WILL PROVIDE SUFFICIENT TONNAGE TO COVER WHOLE OF ESTIMTED MOVEMENT LE ARE RELUCTANT TO GO TOO FAR IN CASE «E ALL DOWN OWING TO LACK OF SUIT.BLE VESSELS BEING AVAILSI.

5.

IN VIEW OF THE ABOVE 3 JAIVE YOU TO ADVISE CRINE JE LUTHORITIES THAT WE CAN PROVIDE AT LEAST SIX VESSELS AND TALT E ILL ALLOCATE IS E SUGGEST THE LANY BORE AS POSSIBLE UP TO THE TOTAL OF 20 PROPOSED. BEST HETHOD OF MAKING UP ANY BALANCE REQUIRED "OULD BE FOR YOU TO ARRANCE FOR TRANSFER OF ANY SUITABLA VESSELS IN YOUR AREA NOW OPERATED BY P.3.1.0. S.E.A.C. ¡HO COULD IF NECHARY OBTAIN REPLACE ANTS BY TAKING UP EQUIVALENT TONNAGE IN INDIA AND THUS ELL INTING THE RETURN BALLAST VOYAGE.

6.

MAJORITY OF VESSELS UNDER S....C.'S CONTROL WILL NOT BE PROCEEDING FURTHER 2.ST THAN SINGAPORE AND NUMBER OF COMMERCIAL VESSELS FROCEEDING YOUR AREA WILL BE LLITED FOR SOM TLE,

7. FOR YOUR GUIDANCE EARN ANXIOUS TO EXCLUDE "S.13" AND AMERICAN BARE BOATED "FORDS" FROM HIS EMPLOYENT ND CONSE `UENTLY THE "3/S" NOW IN SERVICE SHOULD BE WITHDRAWN AS SOON AS PRACTICABLY POSSIBLE. BER THIS IN MIND WHEN MAKING YOUR RANGEMENTS.

ILL YOU PIAJE

8. MAST 50 FROM HONGKONG INDICATED TEM YOU IRE NOT ANXI US FOR WHOLESALE RETURN OF CHINA COASTERS BUT IN ANA CASE ORIGINAL PLANS ARE BEING RETARDED FOR VARIOUS REASONS SUCH AS REPIRS AND RECONDITIONING OF VESSELS SELECTED. FRESURE YOU COULD USEFULLY EMPLOY ADDITIONAL MEDIUM SIZED TRAP TYPE VESSELS SUCH AS HOLLER SHIPS AND TILE WHESE WOULD BE USEFUL FOR COAL. IF SO WA WVILI ENDEAVOUR TO ARRANGE FOR EARLY RETURN OF FURTHER VESSELS OF THIS CLASS ICH ORIGINALLY OPERATED CHINESE WATERS.

19. WE ARE

6857

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