§ 97. Mr. A. Royleasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what arrangements he is making to assist British shiping companies to send relief skeleton crews to British ships marooned in the Great Bitter Lake by the closure of the Suez Canal.
§ Mr. William RodgersA member of the Canadian Embassy staff in Cairo who look after British interests was able to visit all four British ships now in the Great Bitter Lake on 23rd July. Apart from one or two minor ailments we understand that the crews are in good health, and one of the captains has reported that morale is high. I understand that the Master of the "Port Invercargill" about whose health there has been some concern, has received medical attention from a doctor who is now visiting the ships twice a week and that Captain Conby has been instructed by the ship's owners to return to this country. Deliveries of food, mail and other supplies have been reaching the ships through the local agents. The ships' owners are making arrangements with the Egyptian authorities for the relief of the crews and we are in close touch with them about this.