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OUTWARD TELEGRAM
[This telegram is of particular secrecy and should be retained by the authorised recipient and not passed on.]
F.
[CYPHER]
No. 1553.
CABINET DISTRIBUTION,
FROM FOREIGN OFFICE TO CHUNGKING.
D. 1.55.p. m. 20th November, 1945.
20th November, 1945.
·
Repeated to Mr. Dening. No. 1037.
kk kk
IMPORTANT.
Commander in Chief Hongkong's telegram to you IZ.10544 of November 16th [detention of Sunderland flying boat at Samar].
Air Ministry strongly support suggestion that Chinese authorities should be pressed to allow R.A.F. aircraft to alight and refuel at Samar, if forced by weather to do so. They point out that this would represent no more than is in practice normally accorded by any nation to aircraft of another country forced to land through stress of circumstances.
2. This is of course independent of proposal for staging post at Shanghai (see your telegram No. 1366), which remains the most urgent need and regarding which I am telegraphing to you separately. Air Ministry, however, attach considerable importance to obtaining above facilities at Samar at an early date.
3. Please therefore, if you see no objection, approach Chinese Government accordingly.
O.T.P.
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