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40.
1945
F 5589/1147/9:10
Si H. Seymour, SuHt.
Chúng Điệp.
tho. 909.
Dated: 23ud.
FAR EASTERN
FS589/G
23 AUG 1945
194
Ed.h.897
Japanese Surrender in Hong Kong.
Refers & Chungking the. 897 =5470/9). States that Generalizsin has sent a message to the delegate
that he will to Offices Commandhip British forces rower B. asks if a British military.
accept Japanese subrender in Hong
leone i
notice
representatives should go wito touch with Soup of hammerffice who will
gen. Wedemeyer & Chinese military to for three Recb. 2 zid. Dup accept regner would days! accept surrender. Has expressed doubt as to whether this would be agreed if, but hopes it
Last Paper.
F5587.
References.
F5470/1147/9
(Print.)
(How disposed of.)
Dft. Col. Price
(Cabrist Offices) from him. Steindal.
Bennett Qup.23.
Yek. Chungtzing
ho.984.
Rpto. Wion ho.8818,
S.E.A.C.ho.422.
Aug.25.
· (Action completed.)
PS4 $/9 ich
PTO
(Index)
Next Paper.
F5472.
may
be
accepted
(Minutes.)
I have discussed this with the Colonial Office. Their view is that it is important that we should not get into the position of accepting Hong Kong from the Chinese and that it is unacceptable, therefore, that the British Officer who takes the surrender should do so as the delegate of Chiang Kai-shek.
This view I think is right.
The only concession which I think we can make is to recognise that Chiang Kai-shek's representa- tive (whom we have already said that we should wel- .come) will be there as the representative of the
Supreme Allied Commander in the China theatre; and that he should sign any surrender document in that capacity provided that his signature is as a witness and not as accepting the surrender. For this purpose it will be necessary to use the model of the final Act of Military Surrender at Berlin (Flag A). This would mean that the Japanese would sign "in the presence of" the British representative only, all other Allied representatives present signing afterwards as witnesses.
I attach a draft of a letter to Colonel Price to give effect to this suggestion if approved.
See within:
Панатлив Ватик
23rd August 1945.
55 Bang 23
1) hmm. Paskain (C.O.) commid. (copy of letter 2) hm. Parkin commut Col. Price of Amp. 24). (copy of letter to Col. Price of Aug. 24)
28888 F.O.P.
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