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O
F /G.
[THIS TELEGRAM IS OF PARTICULAR SECRECY AND SHOULD BE RETAINED
BY THE AUTHORISED RECIPIENT AND NOT PASSED ON.]
[CYPHER]
CABINET DISTRIBUTION
FROM FOREIGN OFFICE TO CHUNGKING
CHUNGKING
No. 1002.
D.
2.10 p.m. 28th August, 1945.
28th August, 1945.
Repeated to Washington No. 8914
Supreme Allied Command South East Asia
(Mr. Dening) No. 432.
MOST IMMEDIATE
JJJ
153
TOP SECRET
My immediately preceding telegram.
We feel that Chiang Kai-shek's present attitude is unreasonable and out of keeping with his recent statesmanlike pronouncement about Hong Kong in his statement of August 24th to the National Defence Council and Central Executive Committee. We are disappointed that he should have disregarded the considerations in paragraphs 3 4 and 5 of my telegram No. 922 as well as our willingness that Chinese and American officers, designated by himself, should be present on the occasion of the surrender.
2. We are most anxious to reach a solution which will leave no rancour on either side and we have considered what compromise we could accept if approach in my immediately preceding telegram has no effect.
3. We have considered suggestion in paragraph 5 of General Carton de Wiart's telegram W.1686 of August 26th to General Ismay. But we find it difficult to make any distinction between the territorial and the military surrender. A possible variant of General Carton de Wiart's suggestion would be that Admiral Harcourt on behalf of His Majesty's Government should accept the surrender jointly with a British officer (preferably General Hayes) acting on behalf of Chiang Kai-shek. Any other Allied representatives present would then sign as witnesses.
4. You should make every effort to persuade Chiang Kai-shek to act as suggested in my immediately preceding telegram, but if he declines to do so you are authorised to make the above suggestion to him.
ОТР.
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