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(F 5501/1147/10)
FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.1.
3rd September, 1945.
Dear Att Burkill General Money
You will have received a copy of telegram No. 891 of the 21st August from Chungking to the Foreign Office about the return of British commercial interests to China.
We share the Ambassador's view that there will be considerable risk in leaving British properties on the China coast unoccupied for longer than is absolutely necessary, and we are taking steps to find out the approximate numbers of business men who with to return to China as soon as possible.
This is merely by nature of advance notice that we shall be approaching the Ministry of War Transport on the question of transport facilities as soon as we know the number of people likely to be involved, and as soon as we have some idea of when the allied military authorities in China will be prepared to allow business men to return. At a rough guess I should say that the
a number number to begin with wbabd not exceed 1,000; such as this could presumably be all put in one ship. We should hope that conditions would allow of their return to China not later than October, in which case they might be ready to leave here in September.
Yours sincerely
(Sgd)
(G.V. Kiteon)
Major-General
Money. Ministry of War Transport.
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