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(F 6157/888/10)
FOREIGN OFFICA, S.W.1.
8th September, 1942.
Dear Eilist
In your letter T. 38682 of the 31st August you asked for our views about amending the telegraphic instructions to the Kailan Wining Administration staff so as to make evacuation compulsory instead of optional.
In point of fact it is unlikely that there will be any further evacuation from China for some time, if at all. We propose to direct our next exchange negotiations towards getting people out of Hong Kong. But if there were an evacuation from China, it would presumably be under the terms of the present agreement, which specifies that only those who wish to go shall be repatriated. It is difficult to see what further sanctions could be applied to the Kailan Mining Administration staff to make them leave.
In spite of the above considerations, however, we agree to your proposed amendment, since the Kailan Mining Administration are in a special position, and we are as anxious as you are to stop them working for the Japanese.
As for the Belgians, we should have, if the opportunity of evacuation arose, to try to get the Belgian Government to take the same line.
Sga Philip Broad. sgə
J. Elliot, 380.,
Trading with the Enemy Department.
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