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In discussion, it was agreed that the telegram from Chungking stating that Chiang Kai-shek had agreed to delegate his authority to the Officer Commanding British Forces could be accepted from the military point of view. It would be necessary to decide what further co-ordinating action should be taken by the British Chiefs of Staff in order to meet the requirements of the Generdissimo and the United States Chiefs of Staff. The primary consideration was to ensure that General Wedemeyer informed General MacArthur that the necessary assurances on military co-ordination had been received from the British so that General MacArthur could issue the necessary orders for the Japanese in Hong Kong to surrender to the British. The most appropriate method would be for General Carton de Wiart to inform General Wedemeyer that assurances had already been given to the Generalissimo and for him to ensure that General Wedemeyer informed General MacArthur that the way was now clear for General MacArthur to issue the necessary orders to the Japanese. Once the 'all clear' had been given for the British Naval Commander to proceed to Hong Kong, it would be desirable for the Naval Officer Commanding to be in direct communication with General Carton de Wiart at Chungking to facilitate any future military co-ordination that was necessary .
THE COMMITTEE:
(a) Accepted the position that Generalissimo
Chiang Kai-shek in his position as theatre commander would delegate to a British officer the power to accept the surrender of Hong Kong, and that the Generalissimo would arrange for a Chinese and an American representative to be present;
(b) Instructed the Secretary to inform
the Foreign Office of their views above;
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(c) Invited the Admiralty to communicate
with C.-in-C. British Pacific Fleet enquiring if it was possible for Admiral Harcourt to establish direct communication with General Carton de Wiart in Chungking;
(a) Invited General Ismay to inform
General Carton de Wiart of the general background concerning the surrender of Hong Kong, and ask him to ensure that General Wedemeyer asked General MacArthur to issue the necessary orders to the Japanese.
Subsequent to the meeting letters were received from the Foreign and Colonial Offices disagreeing with the position defined in telegram No.909. These have been circulated under cover of a minute Ref. COS 1156/5 from General Ismay to the Chiefs of Staff. Meanwhile action on the above conclusions is to be held in abeyance.
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