4/E.
F. Cooper, Esq., C.M.G.
1.U.S. (Pol.),
Ministry of Defence
Sir J. Rennie
Copied to:
Major General
J.H. Gibbon, OBE,
XXXX**X*XI
Chiefs of Steff.
Secretariat,
EXERCISE CARICATURE
We heard, inadvertently, only a few days
ago that a large-scale amphibious exercise
was to take place in Hong Kong between 13 and
From the information available
23 February.
Ministry of Defence to us about the nature of the exercise in Sir Arthur
Galsworthy, KCMG Commonwealth Office
:
suchas place at this time, we had very grave
doubts about the-wisdom of proceeding with it.
Accordingly, we sent off Commonwealth Office
telegram No. 203, to which we have now received
a reply from the Governor of Hong Kong
(telegram No. 153) and comments from our
Chargé d'Affaires in Peking (telegram No. 142).
You will already have received copies of the
first two, end I enclose a copy of the Peking
telegram.
2. We have since learnt that the Chiefs of
Staff considered this question when discussing
China on 10 January. Neither we nor,
I understand, the Commonwealth Office was
invited to attend for this item. But your
Office have since sent us a copy of the
relevant Annex, which says that the Chiefs
agreed that, although they were very anxious
that the amphibious exercise should take place
they would invite the Chief of the General
Staff to discuss its possible implications with
the Commander-in-Chief, Far East, the
Cormander British Forces, Hong Kong, and the
/Governor