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THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF HIS BRITANNIC MAJESTY'S GOVERNMENT
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C.C.S. 901/1
11 August 1945
1340
COMBINED CHIEFS OF STAFF
ACTION IN THE EVENT OF AN EARLY JAPANESE SURRENDER
Reference: C.C.S. 901
Memorandum by the Representatives of the British
Chiefs of Staff
1. With reference to paragraph 5 of C.C.S. '901, we have now received the views of the British Chiefs of Staff on Hong Kong and the adjustment of areas of responsibility in the Southwest Pacific.
2. His Majesty's Government consider it of paramount political importance that we should, at the earliest possible moment, send a British Commonwealth force to accept the surrender of the Japanese at Hong Kong. Their idea would be to send a detachment of the British Pacific Fleet at once to Hong Kong, followed as soon as possible by a force of Australians embarked in His Majesty's ships. This would, of course, be subject to agreement with the Australian Government and to the necessary arrangements being made with General MacArthur and Admiral Nimitz.
3. The British Chiefs of Staff also propose that the adjust- ments to the boundaries of the Southwest Pacific area as agreed at TERMINAL, should take effect from the date of the cease fire.
4. In the light of the above we should be glad to know, urgently, whether the United States Chiefs of Staff:
a
Agree to paragraph 2 above, and would be prepared
to instruct General MacArthur and Admiral Nimitz to make available, at the appropriate moment, the forces which it is desired to send to Hong Kong. We would then ask the British Chiefs of Staff to seek the agreement of the Australian Government and transmit their detailed instructions direct to Admiral Fraser, instructing him to concert his plan for Hong Kong with Admiral Nimitz and General MacArthur.
Agree with the proposal in paragraph 3 above.
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