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With the Compliments of the Under-Secretary of State for Dominion
(12 NOT 194)
From the Government of
CANADA
F12264
278
F
Inter green
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CYPHER TELEGRAM
TO DOMINIONS OFFICE
D. 11th November, 1941. R. 11th
#
No. 228 MOST SECRET.
HONG KONG
2.35 p.m. 10.CO pelle
F12133/327/9
In view of your telegram No. 191 of 7th November suggest that official communique should now read as follows:-
"A Canadian Force under the command of Brigadier J.K. Lawson has arrived at Hong Kong, the Canadian Government announced at Ottawa today. The troops are in the best of spirits after their voyage and have rapidly made themselves at home in their new surroundings.
In
In consultation with the Government of the United Kingdom, the Canadian Government had welcomed the opportunity of assuming this further commitment to its war effort and had gladly furnished troops necessary for this purpose, view of her position as a Pacific power, Canada has a special interest in the question of security in that area and the Government felt that the effect of the action they had taken would not be without value to the cause for which we are fighting.
The Canadian troops will serve under the command of the General Officer Commanding the British troops in China. The strength of the force was not disclosed".
It is thought that the above text takes into consideration the points mentioned in paragraph 4 of your telegram.
Arrangements outlined in paragraphs 2 and 3 of your telegram satisfactory except that we feel that there should be an interval of 3 hours rather than one hour from the time the telegram is received in London until its announcement there in order to allow for possible difference in the time of transmission to Canada and to ensure that the first announcement of the arrival will be made by the Canadian authorities.
Please cable if the above text and arrangements
satisfactory.
Copy to:--
Dominions Office
Secretary of State
Permanent Under Secretary Mr. Holmes
Mr. Pugh
Mr. Mons on
War Cabinet Office My Stirling
Colonial Office
Admiralty
Foreign Office
War Office
*-
Captain Baxter
Mr. Ashley-Clarke Major Nicholl
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