FO371-46257 — Page 56

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COPY FROM

MWTR Hong Kong Shipminder London

MESSAGE

THI 071220/Oct.

RECD. 071031/Oct./45

IN

30

Shipminder Singapore Mast 3.

RTD. Shipminder Bombay Mast 6

MAST 24 For Sir Gilmour Jenkins from Reid (1) Before I left London I expressed the concern I felt about the coal position out here and again in my Mast 1355 from Colombo and Southmast 5 from Hong Kong I have received no advice as to the action being taken on these requests.

(2) China coasters ESANG and WOSANG have now arrived in Hong Kong and others will follow within the next few days They have sufficient bunkers for one voyage to Shanghai and thereafter we shall have to lay them up

It is estimated unless you supply me with sufficient coal without delay. that we shall eventually require about 20,000 tons for a monthly offtake of about 8,000 tons.

(3) Availability of coal supplies has been fully investigated and there is no repeat no prospect of obtaining coal from China for some months. (4) I hope that Ministry can help otherwise we shall be defeated in task we came out to accomplish Please telegraph what you can arrange. (5) My +Mast 23 sent through Admiralty contains proposal we have sent to Embassy Chungking regarding coastal traffic.

✦

(Not yet received in Telegraph Sec. MOWT)

Sir G. Jenkins Sir V. Thomson Mr. F.A. Griffiths Mr. E. M. Nicholson Bir W. Currie (2)

Sir A. Common DOST FSR (4 P(o)(3)

Mr. J.G. Simon

Mr. R.J. Sharp

Sir J. Fisher

Mr. G. P. Christopher Mr. D. G. Ferguson Coal Div. (5)

Mr. S.W. Hill

Miss J.Lidderdale

Mr. W. Graham (2)

Mr. W.J. Dorrell WTR (3).

TOT

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