A most embarrassing situation may therefore arise in the event
of Hong Kong being liberated by Chinese forces unless there is
olcar agreement with Chiang Ini Shek in advance as to our role
in the administration of Hong Kong
5.
Gencral Wedemeyer's position as Chief of staff to the
Generalissimo is such that any agreement of this nature, and the
mengures necessary to implement it, would în practice require
his support and co-operation. Both the British (.0.0. in China
and Ceneral Carton de Wiart have formed the impression that
General Wedemøyer is personally opposed to any action by the
British in China directed to the reoccupation of Hong Kong, and
that he would in any case feel obliged to refor any matter of
this kind to Washington
G
In those circumstances it secnu very desirable that,
before approaching Chiang Kai thek, we should make sure of
American support for our proposal. If those negotiations, first
with the ricans and then with the Chinese, are conducted
through the usual channels there is a danger that they may
drag on for coveral months, whereas as indicated in paragraph 1,
timo may be very short.