I have the honour under instructions from His majesty*e Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affaire to convey to you an expression of the most sincere appreciation of HiB Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom for the facilities so generously afforded for the evacuation of British women and children from Hong Kong to the Philippine Islands, His Majesty*s Oovernment are deeply grateful for all the assistance which has teen given in this connexion not only by the Philippine Oovern- ment but by the United States Army and also the Philippine Red Cross and their gratitude is shared by all those British subjects for whom so much was done. I should be grateful if this expression of His majesty's Government's gratitude could be conveyed to all thoee concerned in the Philippine Islands. I have the honour to be, with the highest consideration, Sir, Your most obedient, humbl§ servant, (»D) L< I'M TAN The Honourable PRHMrNT Cordell Hull, Secretary of State of the United States* Washington, D. C«