F.
OUTWARD TELEGRAM
Original regis
registered
い
om 14802/2/45-
M Parkm
Mher Johnston
153 38A.
4/2/45
[This telegram is of particular secrecy and should be retained
by the authorised recipient and not passed on].
[CYPHER]
CABINET DISTRIBUTION
FROM FOREIGN OFFICE TO WASHINGTON
D.11.5 a.m. 25th August, 1945.
No. 8821
25th August 1945.
Repeated to Chungking No. 985 (Immediate).
TTTTTT
IMMEDIATE
SECRET
United States Ambassador communicated to me on August 24th message from Mr. Byrnes to the effect that the United States Government thought it advisable to make public the procedure proposed under General Order No. 1 for the surrender of Japanese forces in China to Chiang Kai-shek in order to off- set any possibility that elements in China other than those of the Chinese National Government might attempt to bring about the surrender of Japanese forces to someone other than Chiang Kai-shek or his duly authorised designate. Message enclosed text of a proposed statement with a request for my comments.
2. Statement was not entirely satisfactory as it contained an inaccurate passage which might moreover prejudice our standpoint about Hong Kong, to the effect that it had been agreed between the U.S.S.R., the United Kingdom, China and the United States that Japanese forces in Chiang Kai-shek's theatre should surrender to Chiang Kai-shek as the Allied Connander in Chief in that theatre or to his designated representatives.
3. I suggested certain amendments and asked Mr. Winant to inform Mr. Byrnes that the issue of the statement would be agreeable to me if the revised version given in my immediately following telegram was adopted.
40 I do not know when Mr. Byrnes proposes to issue this statement. His message said he would like to do so "within the next few days".
O.T.P.