Hello Bob.

Bob. I have here an item belonging to you that at the time when you were, The Minister of State For Armed Forces, you sent it, to Jim Devine, who was at that time the Labour, Member of Parliament, for Livingston.

The item Bob, is in the form of a letter that by its terms therein, establish, the fact that you are a ‘forigner to the truth,’ that the son of a preacher man elevated to the position of Secretary of State For Defense.

With that stated, the  (item) that you sent to Mr. Devine, was in the form of a letter, ref: D/Min(AF0/BA MC05786/2007  and dated 18^th November 2007.

Within the penultimate paragraph, of that letter, you are seen to state that, which I am about to quote by under-scoring; “ By the time HMS AMETHYST reached HMS CONCORD’s position at the mouth of the river Yangtze on the morning of 31^st July 1949, she had succeeded in making her escape.”

Then you continue your letter, by writing: “As a copy of HMS CONCORD’s log provided by Mr. Leitch indicates HMS CONCORD’s people had been ‘closed up’ at Action Stations between 0420 and 0715. For all intents and purposes, however, and as the log itself indicates, during that period neither ship was subject to enemy attention that might have merited recognition by a medal.”

Now for the benefit of others reading this posting, the following is that, which is recorded on H.M.S. Concord’s log for the 30^th and 31^st July 1949 Yangtze Kiang Meeting H.M.S. Amethyst. 

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0145 Weighed and proceeded at 20 knots. Course as required to proceed up river.

0220 Spoke to Chinese Nationalist Warship, vicinity Tungshan bank buoy.

0255 Came to Starboard, anchor in position, Kiutuan. L.V. 289 degrees  1.8 miles.          Veered to two shackles in 4-5 fathoms.

0345 Weighed and proceeded, Course 285 degrees speed 20 knots. Altered course 310 Degrees.

0415 altered course 290 degrees  J.T.B.

0402 Altered course 320 degrees.   

0431 Altered course 285 degrees ‘Hands to Knoght Action Stations.

0445 Passed S.2, Knoll buoy.  0448 Altered course 300 degrees.

0450 speed 16 knots.  0510 Request for slow speed, vicinity Blockhouse buoy. 

0512 Amethyst contacted by radar. Bearing 287, 7 miles.

0525 Amethyst in sight 3 miles.

0535 On station, two cables. Amethyst on Starboard quarter.  Course 120 degrees Speed 19 knots.

0548 Altered course 130. 

0605 Altered course 140. 

0623 Altered course 125.   

0640 Kituan L.V. Abeam Port. Altered course 115.

0710 Speed 10 knots. 

0715  Secured from Action Stations.  

0740 Passed Yangtze L.V. Abeam Starboard 1 mile.

0815-0840 Two attempts to remain alongside Amethyst—anchored in position 1 Mile East of L.V. unsuccessful due to tide. Starboard anchor let go and weighed again in each case. J.T.B.

0915 Set course 140 degrees speed 11 knots. Amethyst in station astern.

0930 Y.K. L.V. bearing 311 degrees.    ( Y.K.L.V.  i.e., Yangtze Kiang Light Vessel)

A, Gulzlaff B. Bearing 223Degrees.

M.Pei Ting Mors Bearing 176 degrees.

1040 Speed 18 knots.

1050 Speed 10 knots.

1110 K.S. Saddle 111 degrees.N.E. Saddle 080 degrees.A. Blinker  058 degrees.

1155 Amethyst in position 30 degrees by 40 degrees N. (20 degrees by 45 degrees E.

1158 Slow ahead together. Course as required to attend Amethyst.

1200 Concord proceeded alongside Amethyst.

1212 Ring off main engines, 2 hours notice for steam. S.P. correct Transferred Canteen Stores to H.M.S. Amethyst. Discharged 147 tons of oil fuel to H.M.S. Amethyst. J.T.B.

1215 Hands to Make and Mend Cloths.

Position Latitude Longitude Depending on Currents Experienced

0800  31 degrees 03 N  122 degrees 19-5 E Fix 0740 Tidal Streams Draught = 11’-3” For’ad 12’ –6” Aft.

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 1700 Exercised Fire Parties.

1800 Lieutenant T.J.D. Grant RN. Drafted to Amethyst on temporary loan, also one signalman and one Telegraphs, C.A.B.

2000 Slipped from Amethyst and proceeded.

2010 Speed as Requisite.

2020 Fall out Special Sea Duty men.

2030 Fix 71 E Saddle 393 degrees K.S. Saddle 277 degrees71 False Saddle 313-5

2033 Altered course 166degrees Speed 12 knots.

2050 Altered course 180 degrees Rounds Correct.  J.I.F.

2120 Assumed economical  steaming conditions. Amethyst on our port quarter.

2122 Kuken bearing 168 degrees Elgarb Light bearing 255 degrees.

2231 A Video 273 degrees 4 sisters 311 degrees 2 Brothers 023 degrees Altered course 216

2320 Raised Ton Timg Light bearing 228 degrees.

 
There you have the recorded events (time logged) appertaining to H.M.S. Concord, 30^th and 31^st July 1949 in obedience, carrying out the orders of the Commander-in-Chief, Far East Station, Admiral, Sir Patrick Brind, K.C.B., C.B.E. (See naval signal).

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(A further Signal) for its terms therein.

As can be seen on Concords log: 0255 Came to Starboard, anchored in position, Kiutuan. L.V. 289 degrees 1.8 miles. Veered to 2 shackles in 4-5 fathoms.

Now look at the message marked 2 on the above signal. It states: ‘D.8 WITH FLOTILLA CLOSE YANGTZE). That was the Destroyers of the 8 Flotilla, Far East Station being ordered to support other ships of the flotilla to ‘Blocade’ the entrance of the river Yangtze. (A Rigor of War Situation) at the time of H.M.S. Amethyst and H.M.S. Concord, being within the War Zone of Chinas Territorial waters.

Then message listed 3: AMETHYST SLIPPED AT 2200 AND HAS COME UNDER FIRE.  (SEE again Concords log: 0345 Weighed and proceeded, Course 285 degrees speed 20 knots. Altered course 310 degrees 0415 altered course 290 degrees. J.T.B.

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0420 Altered course 320 degrees.  0431 Altered course 285 degrees ‘Hands to Night Action Stations’   

That meant that ratings already ‘closed up’ had the added rigors of manning the armament on a darkened ship, and on this next naval signal being posted below, that shows what they were committed to, in a war zone within Chinas,  territorial waters. 

  At this juncture I am returning once again to Mr. Ainsworths, letter of 18 November, 2007 for its terms therein, being underscored here: “For all intents and purposes, however, and as the log itself indicates, during that period neither ship was subject to enemy attention that might have merited recognition by a medal.”

Well Mr. Ainsworth, no doubt someone or some source will require that you by your inference and use of the word ‘enemy’ will be called to account for that inference.

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Now, for all intents and purposes, by clicking on the link that I am providing here:- http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1949/apr/26/attacks-on-hm-ships-china

That will allow everyone to read in detail Prime Minister, Clements Statement to the House of Commons 26^th April 1949 in that statement he is seen to be covering the events or occurrences relating to H.M.S. Amethyst and Consort in the Yangtze Incident 20^th April 1949 and to H.M.S. London and Black Swan 21^st April 1949.

Within the very first paragraph of the statement Prime Minister, Attlee, is seen to state; * “I will first explain what our position is with regard to the civil in China. It has been repeatedly stated in this House that our policy has been governed by the Moscow Declaration of December, 1945, in which the United Kingdom, the United States and the Soviet Union declared a policy of non-intervention in China’s internal affairs.”

(That I will return to).

By clicking on this link also being  provided:- http://hansard.milbanksystems.com/lords/1949/apr/26/the-yangtse-incident there you will be able to read how THE FIRST LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (VISCOUNT HALL) put Prime Minister, Attlee’s statement to the House of Lords, and thereafter the questions that were asked by VISCOUNT SWINTON.

Here I now quote word verbatim from COPY NO. 31 of a document headed;- (THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS MAJESTY’S GOVERNMENT)

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S E C  R E T
G.P. (49)  93                                                                                                                                  COPY NO 3125 APRIL. 1949            

CABINET
SITUATION IN CHINA
Memorandum by the Foreign Secretary
And  the  First  Lord   of   the Admiralty

H.M.S. AMETHYST

         We circulate for the consideration of the Cabinet the text of the statement which it is proposed should be made to Parliament on the AMETHYST incident (Annex  A).

2. Also attached (Annex  B) are some details of the incident, not intended to be included in the statement to Parliament, though certain points may have to be brought out in answer to questions which may be raised.

       *************************************************************

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 That to me speaks volumes, in that at the time of the Yangtze Incident occurring the burning question being asked, that was of paramount importance to this nation was, “ How could such an incident occur at a time when this nation was at peace ?

Then on the 26^th April 1949 Prime Minister, made his statement to the House of Commons, the statement that can be found on the link I’ve provided. 

Here I now return to that how that statement begins; “I will first explain  what our position is with regard to the Civil war in China.  Then he profoundly provides the House with the following rhetoric; “It has been repeatedly stated in this House that our policy has been governed by the Moscow Declaration of December, 1945, in which the United Kingdom, the United States and the Soviet Union declared a policy of non-intervention into Chinas internal affairs.”

In making that very prolific announcement to the House, Mr. Attelle’s statement, then ran on, amounting, in transcript to 6, A4A pages, of statement and in turn, 5 pages of questions being asked and replied to.

On page seven of such, it can be seen that a Mr. Gammon. asked the following question; “In view of the changed circumstances, do the Government still regard themselves as bound by the Moscow Declaration which means that, while we are doing our best to halt Communism in Europe, we are prepared to do nothing to check it in Asia?  In view of the southward advance of the Communist forces, can the right hon. Gentleman give this House an assurance right here and now that Hong Kong is safe both from external aggression and fifth column activity from within?

The Prime Minister I would prefer to have these detailed question put on the Order Paper; they do not arise directly out of this incident.

(That above was the only question put to Prime Minister, Attlee, touching on the Moscow Declaration, and below it, the answer that was provided.)

Now, within the United Nations ------- Treaty Series  1950 the following can be found;
Number 850.   EXCHANGE OF NOTES CONSTITUTING AN AGREEMENT  BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA FOR THE TRANSFER OF CERTAIN BRITISH NAVAL VESSELS TO CHINA AND THE MUTUAL WAIVER OF CLAIMS IN RESPECT OF THE LOSS OF OTHER VESSELS. LONDON. 18 MAY, 1948.                                            

_________________

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_________________

1

Mr. Ernest Bevin   to  Dr. Cheng Tien-Hsi
FOREIGN OFFICE

Your Excellency,                                                                                  18^th May, 1948

             In order to assist in the post-war reconstruction of the Chinese Navy and to consolidate the association between the Royal Navy and the Chinese Navy, which has continued for seventy years, and in order to show their goodwill towards the Government of the republic of China, His Majesty’s Government of Great Britain and Northern Ireland are willing to make an agreement with the Government of the Republic of China on the following terms:--

-----------------------------------------------

Here below is a photograph of H.M.S. Aurora, an Arethusa – class light cruiser,

The ship was renamed Chung King, later the ships Chinese Nationalist crew, defected to the Communists, taking the ship with them, it was then re-named Tchoung King, then

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in March 1949 the ship was sunk in Taku, harbor by Nationalist aircraft.

 Further, being posted below is a photograph of H.M.S. Mendip, a Hunt (Type 1) class destroyer that loaned to the Chinese Nationalist Navy and renamed, the ‘Lin Fu’..

Following the Yangtze Incident the British Government reprocessed the ‘Lin Fu’ 

Attlee, omitted to relate to all of those facts in his statement, thereby disallowing  questions, and on page six above, of this posting;  (CABINET SITUATION IN CHINA) The memorandum by the Foreign Secretary and the First Lord of the Admiralty dated 25^th April 1949, (where it is stated),  “We circulate for the consideration of the cabinet the text of the statement which it is proposed should be made to Parliament  on the AMETHYST incident.   (Annex. A).
2. Also attached (Annex B) are some details of the incident not intended to be included in the statement to the Parliament, though certain points may have to be brought out in answers to questions which may be raised there.”

(There, you see the terms of what amounts to an orchestrated plot by the then Foreign Secretary and the First Lord of the Admiralty, colluding to exclude from Parliament, in order to disallow questions, details, appertaining to a major incident of conflict.)

There you have the keys to the un-locking  and answering of the question, “How could such an incident occur at a time when this nation was at peace.” 

Here, I now return to H.M.S. Concord’s, role in the Amethyst Incident, and in so doing I am posting a telegram  dated 31^st July 1949 for its terms therein

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There it is for the world to see the stab in the back, to the ships compliment of H.M.S. Concord, from the British Ambassador, Sir. Ralph Stevenson, G.C.M.G., who was then stationed at Nanking.
I am now posting here a copy of a letter which by its terms there in is self-explanatory and was sent to Mr. Bob Ainsworth by a Minister of the Scottish Parliament.

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The photo being posted below was taken from on-board H.M.S. Concord, minutes after the ship secured from action stations at 0715.
As can be seen fluttering from were it was attached to the Jack-stave on the bullring forward, is the awning that was used in the effort to alter the image of Amethyst    

The next photo also taken from on-board H.M.S. Concord, shows Amethyst, in position (30 degrees by 40 degrees N, (20 degrees by 45 degrees E. at 1155.

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And as can be seen below at 1200 Concord proceeded alongside Amethyst.

Shortly I will be posting on this link several statements from those who served on-board H.M.S. Concord, 30^th and 31^st July 1949

Sincerely,
William Leitch.
1949 Yangtze Campaign Medal, Petitioner.