COPY.
IMPORTANT.
From:S.A.C.S,E.A.
To:
A.M.S.S.0
TOP SECRET CYPHER TELEGRAM
483502
IZ 8014
TOO 2105312 TOR 2117252
Ei
3.
112
Repeated J.S.M. Washington. X COS(a)
• SEACOS 245
1.
21st October, 1944.
Following for Chiefs of Staff.
The Japanese advances in China northwards from Canton and Southwards from Hengyang have made it impossible for British Military Mission Chungking to continue to supply by road the British Army Aid Groups and B.M.M. training schools in area east of the Hankow Canton railway. In consequence Air Attache Chungking has requested Air Command S..A. to arrange air transport to move equipment of the Military Mission and British Army Aid Groups eastward from Liuchow into the Puchong-Suichwan area.
2.
Air Command S.E.A. have authorised the diversion of one aircraft from the Calcutta Kunming route for a single trip from Liuchow to Kanchow, but it is impracticable for Air Command alone to continue to provide air transport for the se purposes since the resources cannot be spared from existing commitments. Moreover since the flight would involve crossing Japanese held territory a fighter protection would probably be necessary which 14th U.S.A.A.F cannot be expected to provide. It should also be noted that the security of the staging airfield at Liuchow is in doubt.
3.
Air Command S.E.A. has informed Chungking accordingly. In present circumstances B.A.A.G. parties and B.M.M. Training schools can be maintained east of the Hankow Canton railway only by assistance from American forces in China.
4.
It is therefore requested
(a) that the policy regarding the maintenance of British interests in China be clearly defined and communicated,
(b) that the responsibility of South East Asia Command in respect of the implementation of this policy be clearly defined. This is necessary because British requirements now rely on British air activities over the Hump and the se detract from S.E.A.C's resources.
T.0.0. 210531Z