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Extracts of telegram from Chungking to Foreign Office, No. 856, dated 16th August, 1945.
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GUARD
Your telegram No. 888.
Memorandum in terms of your telegram was presented by Counsellor August 12th, before my return, to
Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, Chiang Kai-shek having excused himself from receiving former on grounds of pressure of other work. Counsellor was sent for by Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs tonight and handed over reply which starts by quoting Embassy memorandum and continues:-
It is noted that Hong Kong is not included in places to be surrendered to Supreme Allied Commander of SEAC and it is in the area in which Japanese forces are to surrender to Generalissimo of China theatre. It is noted also that suggestion maue in memorandum of British Embassy pertaining to Indo-China is also in conflict with both paragraph "A" and paragraph "C" of order above referred to. The Chinese Government respect all legitimate British interests, and are prepared to accord them every necessary protection. But as a concerted plan of accepting surrender of Japanese force is essential to restoration of peace and order in Asia, it is suggested His Majesty's Government should make arrangements for acceptance of surrender of Japanese forces in accordance with general order of Allied Nations and refrain from landing forces in any place in China theatre without getting authority from Supreme Commander for Allied Powers and Supreme Commander of Theatre.