OWVlMB/1908.
Airway Terminus,
Viotoria Station,
London, S.W.I,
1st December, 1936.
My dear Shelmerdine,
I think you will be interested to see a cutting
from the New York Times, which our man in New York has
just sent us.
The point which seems to me to he importsnt is
that Christmas Island has been included in a list of
islsnds over which the United States has obtained
sovereignty.
I hope that the recent visit of R.M.S. Achilles
to Christmas Island has effectively established British
sovereignty there, particularly as that island was reported
by her to be suitable for use as a base for long range
flying boats.
I cannot help feeling anxious, however, when I
read that the United States does not recognize anything
but continuous occupation as establishing sovereignty.
The fact that Christmas Island is included in a
list of islands to be visited by American naval flying
boats seems to me to be ominous.
May I have the cutting back at your
convenience?
Yours sincerely,
(Sgd.)   O.E. Woods Humphery.
Lt.Col. Sir Francis C. Shelmerdine, C.I.E., O.B.E.,
Air Ministry,
Owydyr Rouse,
Whitehall,
London, S.W.I.