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(F/1189/327/G).
Immediate.
FOREIGN OFFICE, S..1.
2nd November, 1941.
Dear Nichol,
With reference to Browne's letter No. 00/162A of the 22nd October I quite agree that we ought to decide now as to how the arrival of Canadian reinforcements at Hong Kong is to be treated for publicity and propaganda purposes.
2. Telegram Gleam No. 149 relates only to exaggerated publicity about messures in which the Americans have a share. We do not therefore think it necessary to consult Washington on the point now at issue. Nevertheless I suggest we should do well to adopt the principle suggested in Gleam 149. Kong is not going to be made impregnable by the arrival of two battalions and we hope therefore that publicity will not be overdone.
Hong
3. We would much prefer ourselves that it should be confined to the fact of the arrival of the force; and we entirely agree that the world press will draw the inferences mentioned in paragraph 3 of Browne's letter without prompting from us and that it is best to allow it to do so. If we force the pace too much we shall, as you say, give an impression of weakness rather than of strength.
4. We hope with this line or not must, we
the Canadian Government will agree Whether there are to be newsreels realise, depend on their wishes.
But
if/
Major D.I. Nichol.
M.0.2.
War Office.
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