Page 82
208
Page 82
F
CHA
F12278
43
L
1 DEC 1939
Registry
Withdrawal of gunboats from Yangtse.
Refers to Foreign Office telegram No.831 to
Number F 12278/3918/10 | Washington (F 11918/3918/10). When Sir A.Clark-Kerr
TELEGRAM FROM
Sir A.Clark-Kerr.
No. 1321 Shanghai.
Decypher.Important. Dated 1st Dec.1939
Received
in Registry 1st Dec.1939
F: China.
Last Paper.
References.
(Print.)
(How disposed of.)
Copy Dng Dec 1
14 Aamity (Walion) W-os (Keyou Steel)
Coppy Paris
Дес 2
Wlon MF12659 dec. 14
(Action completed.)
18/12/23/9
(Lydex.)
доча
Next Paper.
F12303
was in Chungking Minister for Foreign Affairs urged that in event of His Majesty's Government withdrawing any more gunboats from occupied China they should also, as a gesture lay up one or more in free China. Strongly recommends that two of the three in the upper river be laid up, leaving one for patrol purposes. Gunboats at Chungking and Changsha now serve no useful purpose and can well be spared. Has discussed this matter with Ray who is telegraphing to Commander in Chief in the same sense. Repeated Commander in Chief 389, Tokyo 796.
(Minutes.)
copies peut to W.D.
to W.D. (Major Steel)
and to Adae) (Mr. Walton).
According topp, the Cin C. is against Laying up ing of the three jumboats in "free China" (F11277), while S'hai Emboss advocated Caying them up (F1/152 and 11238). The situation is now however- altered by the fact that the Ch. Goo? have. raised the
subject (though why did Sir A. Clark Herr not eport this tous at the time?!). In view I what the MF.A. said, therefore, I agree that subject to the Cincs views we might with draw one or Two gumboats; my own preference
would be to withdraw the gunboat at Changsha by urrangement with the Ch. - Japse voo? but retain those at Ichang and at Chung King.
F12456
But first uwait CinC's views
See also §6 of Fo letter to
"Admy of 5/11 in F11376)
Su J. Brquan
19514 7/39 F.O.I.
AuSe54212
agre, and pointed out
al
Page 82
Page 82
Page 82