side. It would be air Allan Hossop's second
task to deal with measures for the safeguarding
of British property rights and interests.
British
firms wanted to send out individual representatives
but it would not be feasible that they should
all do so at the outset. P ublic utility
companies should, however, he thought, be
represented on the mission.
FREDRID, D.O.T., said that that the
Department of Overseas Trade had told firas
that they could not send out representatives
until the military authorities gave their
consent. He suggested that the Economi o
Liaison officer would have definite idens of
whoa was required.
MR. SATRNDALE BENENT reminded the meeting
that the Economic Liaison officer would under
present arrangements have a limited function
and would be quite distinct from the liaison
mission, although he might have to be linked
up eventually with it. The Foreign Office had
had several unofficial talks with the China
Association. The Association had been told that
it was unlikely to be feasible for each indi-
vidual firm to be represented at the outset on
any mission which might accompany the
liberating army into Shanghai. From this the
Association had erroneously assumed that the
Foreign Office were opposed to any representativas
of British firms being allowed to go in with
Advanced Military Headquarters.
This misunder
/standing
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