5
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BEGINS
2.
3.
Begins
Your G. 2105/S.
·
As wo have agrood to your amondod para. 4(c) and recognise Gonoral MacArthur as the Supreme Commander for Alliod Powong wo still seo no need for any agrooment to be signod nor for the insertion of proposed paragraph 4 (I).
Wo wish to safeguard position of C. in C. Hong Kong and wo consider that to sign agreements concerning the use of Hong Kong facilities is to make promises which later, through either large scale demands from the Chinese and Americana on the pretext they are fulfilling MacArthur's orders, or through the inability of the Hong Kong Colony to meot its own internal difficulties regarding repatriation of P.O.W. administration etc., we shall be unable to honour and thus be accused of a breach of faith. Moreover we feel that if agreements are to be made and signed the C. in C, Hong Kong will know the more immediate implications of any agreement and should be the authority, with whom Chinese and Americans should nogotiato.
In view however of the attitude adopted by Chinese and Americans wo agco to the inclusion of your new paragraph 4(I) and that you may send a lettor, as follows:
I have received by signal from the British Chiefs of Staff their agrooment to attached memorandum which they have instructed Admiral Harcourt to implement to the best of his ability. Ende.
ENDS
091536
1st S.L.(37) and for C.I. G. S.
Sec. to First Sea Lord
1169
C.A.S. Dofence Office
LOO..
LAURAS
ANASAH
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One coffer to
TOP SECRAT CYPHAN TELEGRAM.
DESPATCHED BY 0.T.P.
C 5611
,
Mesent
TOO 0912302 TOD 091320Z
44
9/9.
MOST IMMEDIATE.
From A.M.S.S.0.
Ack
To : BRITCHIN
5611
17
9th September 1945
For Cartwright from Chiefs of Staff.
Your G.2105/S.
As we have agreed your amended para 4(c) and recognise General MacArthur as the Supreme Commander for Allied Powers we still see no need for any agreement to be signed nor for the insertion of proposed para 4(i).
2. We wish to safeguard position of C. in C. Hong Kong and we consider that to sign agreements concerning the use of Hong Kong facilities is to make promises which later, through either large scale demands from the Chinese and Americans on the pretext they are fulfilling MacArthur's orders, or through the inability of the Hong Kong Colony to meet its own internal difficulties regarding repatriation of P.0... administration etc., we shall be unable to honour and thus be accused of a breach of faith. Moreover we feel that if agreements are to be made and signed the C. in C. Hong Kong will know the more immediate implications of any agreement and should be the authority with whom Chinese and Americans should negotiate.
3. In view however of the attitude adopted by Chinese and Americans we agree to the inclusion of your new paragraph 4(1) and that you may send a letter as follows.
BEGINS.
I have received by signal from the British Chiefs of Staff their agreement to attached memorandum which they have instructed Admiral Harcourt to implement to the best of his ability.
CIRCULATION.
Defence Office Foreign Office First Sea Lord C. 6 Tels
ENDS.
T.0.0. 091230Z
A. M. C.S. (C)
S. of S. Dominions S. of S. Colonies S. of S. India
age
9
age 9
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Original registered
CA
54144/40/571.
This telegram is of particular secrecy and should be retained by the authorised recipient and not passed on.]
[CYPHER]
Sir H. Seymour.
CABINET DISTRIBUTION
FROM CHUNGKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE
D: 9.12 a.m.GMT 9th September, 1945.
No. 1,061.
9th September, 1945.
R: 10.30 a.m. BST 9th September, 1945.
@@@
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MOST IMMEDIATE
Your telegram No. 955.
You will have seen telegraphic correspondence between Brigadier Cartwright and British Chiefs of Staff on co-ordination for Hong Kong. The only point still at issue concerns pro- vision for appeal to General MacArthur in case of disagreement between British and Chinese interpretations of directive to Admiral Harcourt.
2. Brigadier Cartwright has recommended acceptance and in doing so had my agreement. A new point has now been brought in by the Chinese since the Brigadier's last signal and the Director of Military Intelligence was to-day accompanied by Dr. Wu in pressing upon the Brigadier the necessity for the inclusion of clause in [grp.undec. ? agreement]. The point made by Dr. Wu was that in my communications to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of August 20th and August 22nd (which were copied to you in my despatches Nos. 899 and 910) His Majesty's Government had committed themselves to give "first priority" to Chinese operational transit arrangements in Hong Kong. This
but the point behind may be stretching British communications; their insistence clearly is that the Chinese are nervous that Hong Kong administration will be so busy rehabilitating Hong Kong business etc. that Chinese requirements as to troop move- It is for this that ments willbe relegated to secondary rôle.
the safeguard of reference to MacArthur is required.
3. Signature party plan to leave for Hong Kong tomorrow morning but signature will not take place until agreed directive has reached Harcourt. I can see no objection to accepting reference to appeal to MacArthur and sincerely hope Chiefs of Staff will agree: you will appreciate that refusal may again raise the whole question of Chinese "delegation" of authority to Harcourt.
[Advance copies sent to Prime Minister and Chiefs of Staff.]
O.T.P.
13 · 1945
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