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{/
D.9/1.
ANNEX I.
Copy of a Minute dated 7th January, 1941,
from the Prime Minister to Major General Ismay.
GENERAL ISMAY.
Ref. Tel. G.Q.G.F.E.135 6/1 from C, in C. Far East
to Air Ministry.
This is all wrong.
If Japan goes to war with us ,
there is not the slightest chance of holding Hong Kong or relieving it. It is most unwise to increase the loss we shall suffer there. Instead of increasing the garrison Any trouble it ought to be reduced to a symbolical scale. arising there must be dealt with at the Peace Conference after the war. We must avoid frittering away our resources on untenable positions. Japan will think long before declaring war on the British Empire, and whether there are two or six battalions at Hong Kong will make no difference to her choice. I wish we had fewer troops there, but to move any would be noticeable and dangerous.
W.S.C.
7.1.41.
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