!^ 3epte:*»r 22nd. 1M1     /, f0
Thoro is one eubjaot eaten concerns * ,;©od amy departsawjba
bore, namely, the question of the un or Sritl oh and Araarioen
fre* the United States.
ru   the lublio relatione ; oJ: t aj efisjSj Mel situation it Uat,
Judging frca the reports in the Soglieh no*spap«rS, England is short of
all kinda of lan-psaer, both technical, aamial and ef iee, and both sale
and feeale, that in order to rowdy this ehortage, pereone are being
ealled on to register Tor national service and that non-eeear,tial indue*
trlea are being etr'rjed to the adnlsua.     The situation over here ie
that the United States Qui n sennit is being approached la various nays for
the use ©i their can-poesr*  st the yreeent aoeent thess dexande ere
costly in the technical sphere.    Ae regards British subjects in this *ouatryv
the position is that by English Is* they are not subjeet to r-ilitery service*
labour eervioe, exotnat;e rer.uletione, or inoo** tan*     This ereetes an un*
fortunate latrroaaion la Aaericene, eno find that nationala or other oouatrlee
are subject by their national lav to military eervioe 5n the countries of
a.ion they aro eubjoote*     In the oese of incase tax, Aaerioane resident
aoroad have to pay Asarlean laeene tax, exee;t on   their salaries, as eel.
as In the country of residence* while Prltlab subjects *n Aeerioe are free
of any suoh tax liability*    I an hopin^ that the Arhasssdor will take
thle asT«et er the oaae np when he le la Rnglend, with ay aaggeetlon that
British sub>ots should st least ray the dif ereaoe botaeer. the rata of
tax, local and   odora; raid by then In the country In vhloh they real da 9
and the rata on ehioh tax wuJd be levied on their In cose in England.
ir situation. I suggest that it la
tant froft the point or visa of public relations and la vie* of the in-
creasing do ma: ids ae shall be aak'ag on American lan-poeer, that ae pans
lavs making  all British eubjacte all over the world liable to ad 11 tary
and labour service.    While X realise that thle laa cannot be enforced
In a foreign ocu&try without the assistance or such a foreign oountry,
it Is, I think* slear that we aould get considerable assistance in the
United States for the enforoeaent of aueb lava.    There era toe sany
British subjects running about the United Statss and South Acer laa aho
Sir   alter iienoktou, K.C.V.Q.*
Director General,
Ministry or In:'or ration,
LOKOOB, V.C.
•rents
afterwards, Mr. Hopkins pra*
-2-
create a bad impression by spending lavishly and not helping in the
effort.     On the other hand, legislation will be of no use unless we
dov'se a satisfactory systo: fcr enrolling such people and providing
for their dependents.     At the present moment, there are a large number
of British subjects in the United States who are only too willing to help
in the war effort, but who are not qualified in any technical capacity,
though they say possess important professional qualifications.     There Is
no   oaohinsry by waioh they nay be engaged and sant over to Sngland at
Government expanse, or by which provision might be mads for their families.
I have started an index of all British subjects who have offered to help
in the war effort, wloh Is being compiled by an American volunteer and
his secretary.     Already the list has several hundred names, and I have
no doubt that if suitable publicity were given to the need in England for
all classes of aim-power, there would be a large response from the con-
siderable British population in this country.     !or instance, there are
a certain number of accountants, journa istsetc, classified in the
index who, X feel sure, would be useful in England as accountants in a
ounition factory or administrative officers in the Services, or as clerks
in the Ministry of Pensions, etc     Tou would, I think, be surprised by
the amount of good material ws hare in the United States, which unfortunately
eannot be used, and I feel sure that If the Minister of Labour, If he is the
person responsible for the use of Britain's nan-power, knew about the resouroes
In this country, he would take:  steps to utilles then before appealing to
the Americans   who, it is to be antic'rated, wll! ask us to rut our own
house in order first.
The above shows that there are really two problems:   one, the use of
the worthwhile British subjects who wish to help In the war effort, and
2) the control of the less desirable elements by extra-territorial
legislation.
The next problem is the intelligent use of the Anerican voluntary
can-power•     It is quite a oorac-on experience for all   English departments
to receive offers by Americans oi' their services for use in England or the
British Embassy.   It is always a natter of "hit and miss" whether these
services can   be used and in the majority of oases I am afraid they are
politely     told that there is no suitable employment at the moment.
Here again, I would suggest that soae steps be taken to set up an organ-
isation over htre wi.ieh could employ non-technical persons who wmld be
of use in the war effort.
The trouble in both cases seems to me that London is afraid to
delegate.     There is oonsiilerabie sr.rrtage of «sn-pewerj   it could be
partially filled by the reoru^tmant of British snd Africans over hore
but no iraohinery exists exoept in the teohnical and Service spheres.
As regards the oontroling of the less desirable British elements,
there are a good rany sanctions which can be applied in this country
and others where no lecal assistance would be refused; e.g. deprivsl of
passports, revocation of nationality and blaok-listing with British,
allied and friendly firms and authorities.
Tours ever,
JK,CC JOHH F03T3.i
stimulating mw "------
Hr. Hopkins proceeded to England and discussed with
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