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7
GUARD
[This telegram is of particular secrecy and should be
retained by the authorised recipient and not passed on].
[CYPHER]
No. 916.
CABINET DISTRIBUTION
FROM FOREIGN OFFICE TO CHUNGKING
17th August, 1945.
D. 9.50 p.m. 17th August, 1945.
Repeated to Washington No. 8496.
S.E.A.Č. (Mr. Dening). No. 363.
MOST IMMEDIATE
Irrrrr
TOP SECRET
GUARD
Your telegrams Nos. 856 and 857.
Without awaiting the further instructions which will follow as soon as possible, please let Generalissimo know that instructions in my telegram No. 888 were sent before we had any knowledge of the General Order to which the Chinese memorandum quoted in your telegram No. 856 refers. In giving him the earliest possible advance intimation of our intentions, we were acting in good faith in accordance with our view that, irrespective of operational theatres, wherever the Sovereign Power has sufficient forces available it should resume its authority and accept Japanese surrender in its own territory.
2. For your own information we do not share Chinese interpretation of General Order but we will try to suggest SOLIC way round the difficulty.
3. Please repeat further telegrams on this subject to Washington and fir. Dening.
0.T.P.
33
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