HC Deb 28 January 1942 vol 377 cc697-8
17. Mr. Cary

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he has any further information to add to the statement issued by Sir Shenton Thomas, to the effect that evacuation of officials from Penang was carried out without his knowledge or that of the Colonial Secretary?

Mr. George Hall

I have no information beyond what has appeared in the Press regarding the statement attributed to the Governor. The House will realise, I am sure, that action had to be taken by the Civil and Military Authorities in circumstances of great urgency in Penang.

Mr. de Rothschild

How is it that the Colonial Office have no information about this very important statement?

Mr. Hall

The report appeared in Delhi, and there is a good deal of difficulty in getting into communication with the Governor upon matters of this kind.

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