Fili lio
29
[This telegram is of particular secrecy and should be
retained by the authorised recipient and not passed on]
[Cypher]
WAR CABINET DISTRIBUTION
FROM: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
FROM WASHINGTON TO FOREIGN OFFICE.
Viscount Halifax. No.6310.
31st December, 1942.
Repeated to Chungking.
IMMEDIATE.
Do 5.46 p.m. 31st December, 1942.
R. 12.30 a.m. 1st January, 1943.
Your telegrams Nos. 8264 and 8307.
State Department are to-day informing the United States Chargé d'Affaires, London, that owing to difficulties in regard to collation of English and Chinese texts and similar causes of delay (for which the Chinese are and admit themselves responsible) agreement cannot be signed on January 1st. They will therefore not hurry signature, but concentrate on getting texts into good shape; signature can then take place at short notice and as nearly as possible at the same hour as Anglo-Chinese agreement.
2. State Department, who had discussed the problem fully with Mr. Winant yesterday had been prepared to indicate to the Chinese Government that they were displeased by the frequent introduction of extraneous issues and that although the question of Leased Territory was one between China and the United Kingdom it was of concern to the United States Government in so far as its introduction might impair the smooth settlement of extra- territorial question, upon which the policy of the three countries was in harmony. The Chinese withdrawal made this. no longer necessary but Hornbeck was evidently somewhat annoyed by the Chinese objections, and though he said that the State Department's readiness to side with us in this matter was "a by-product" of their own argument with the Chinese, it was evident they would have done their best to help us on general grounds.