| Content Note | Topics covered:
The Vice-Chairman welcomed General Yousuf, High Commissioner for Pakistan, Dr Muller, High Commissioner for South Africa, and Mr Rogers, Deputy High Commissioner for Canada, who were attending a Commission meeting for the first time.
Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery and Extension
Discussion regarding the reported threat to the security of the cemetery after Egyptian municipal officials had suggested that it was to become the site of a school and that all remains buried therein were to be transferred to El Alamein; discussion concerning the legal title to the land transferred by the Egyptian Government to the Commission in 1921, which had been safeguarded in 1937 and ratified in 1955; three main arguments against acceding to demands for the removal of the cemetery, including the negative public opinion that would result from the interference of established war graves among Commonwealth countries, the dangers of establishing a precedent for the transfer of a large number of war graves from a cemetery that had been granted perpetual security of tenure, and financial repercussions; details of the estimated costs of removing the burials to El Alamein; views of various Commission members and resolution that the proposed removal of the cemetery was to be avoided; request from the Chairman that all High Commissioners pass the resolution onto their respective Governments to take such action to dissuade the United Arab Republic from removing the cemetery.
ATTENDEES:
General Sir John Crocker GCB KBE DSO MC (Vice-Chairman of the Commission)
Mr Benjamin Rogers (Representing the High Commissioner for Canada)
Sir Allen Brown (Representing the High Commissioner for Australia)
Mr J. V. Scott (Representing the High Commissioner for New Zealand)
His Excellency Dr Hilgard Muller (Representing the High Commissioner for the Union of South Africa)
Brigadier D. G. R. Rajwade (Representing the High Commissioner for India)
His Excellency Lieutenant-General Mohammed Yousuf (Representing the High Commissioner for Pakistan)
Mr J. H. H. Vaughn (Representing the Secretary of State for the Colonies)
The Rt. Hon. Lord Spens KBE
Mr G. O. Sylvester, MP
Admiral Sir John Edelsten GCB GCVO CBE
Air Marshal Sir Charles Guest KBE CB
Mr John Hogg TD
SECRETARY
Mr W. J. Chalmers CBE (Director-General)
Also in attendance:
Mr H. F. Clark (Canada)
Air Vice-Marshal A. M. Murdoch CB CBE (Australia)
Mr R. L. Jermyn (New Zealand)
Mr F. W. Thomashoff (South Africa)
Brigadier Irshad Ahmad Khan (Pakistan)
Mr A. K. Pallot ((Assistant Secretary) Director of Finance and Establishments)
Major-General J. F. D. Steedman CBE MC (Director of Works)
Mr H. L. Simmons LLB (Legal Adviser and Solicitor)
Mr P. N. Dolan (Chief External Relations and Records Officer)
Mr P. J. Cook |