Bidspirit auction | MOUNTBATTEN LOUIS: (1900-1979) On the

MOUNTBATTEN LOUIS: (1900-1979) On the relief of liberated Sarawak following the capitulation of Japan - MOUNTBATTEN LOUIS: (1900-1979) British Admiral of World War II. A good T.L.S., Louis Mountbatten , with holograph salutation, subscription and postscript, one page, folio, Headquarters, 25th August 1945, to Her Highness the Dayang Muda of Sarawak, on the printed stationery of the Supreme Allied Commander, South East Asia. Mountbatten writes to inform his correspondent of the arrangements for the relief of Sarawak after its liberation, explaining that the requirements for a period of two years have been estimated by a Committee under the Chairmanship of Sir Hubert Young and, in general, cover food, medical and veterinary supplies, agricultural supplies, soap, clothing and footwear etc., and clarifying that ´The general basis on which the estimates for the first period of six months have been compiled is that relief requirements should increase what it is anticipated will be found in the country, to the scale necessary to prevent disease and unrest among the civil population. For subsequent periods the general basis adopted is that standards should be high enough to enable local resources to be developed to the extent considered necessary for relief, and to enable the normal activity of the community to be progressively restored´. Mountbatten further writes ´As you are aware, SARAWAK is only now being brought within the area of my Command. I do not yet know what progress has been made in obtaining relief supplies for that country but I am finding out. In the case of BURMA and MALAYA, countries also covered by the Young Committee Report, procurement of relief supplies for the first six months is a military responsibility. Procurement of supplies for subsequent periods is the responsibility of the Civil Government concerned. It is likely that a similar Military responsibility exists in the case of SARAWAK´ and concludes ´In view of the overall world shortage of relief supplies of all kinds, particularly food, and the heavy additional demands resulting from the capitulation of JAPAN, it is unlikely that any appreciable stocks are now available for SARAWAK´ . A few minor stains, largely to the upper edge, otherwise VG Gladys Milton Palmer (1884-1952) Dayang Muda of Sarawak. British film producer and heiress, the wife of Bertram Brooke, the last heir apparent to the Raj of Sarawak.