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(F. 12933/3918/10)
SPECIAL DISTRIBUTION AND WAR CABINET.
To: CHINA.
Cypher telegram to Sir A. Clark Kerr (Shanghai)
Foreign Office, 23rd December, 1959.
No. 1252
XXXXXX
2.10 a.m.
101
IMPORTANT.
Your telegram No. 1397 [of 21st December: withdrawal of gunboats], not repeated to Commander-in-Chief.
His Majesty's Government have decided to lay up two of
the three gunboats on the upper river, and, in order that due arrangements may be made betimes, you should now
inform Chinese Government accordingly in confidence,
without waiting for any decision which may be necessary
on Hongkong despatch referred to, which I have not yet seen.
Please report when this has been done.
2. French and United States Governments are being
similarly informed.
3. Please consult with Rear-Admiral Yangste
and submit your recommendations as to date of press announcement and simultaneous notification to Japanese and Italian authorities.
Repeated to Chungking No. 186, Rear Admiral Yangtse unnumbered, Hongkong unnumbered (for Commodore) Tokyo No. 881
Commander-in-Chief (personal) unnumbered.
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