170
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171. Nanking Led 1332 1.
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172.
172 ि
FO
# 1333 A DO
Extract from "Times"
981-1 751814
19149
While there are no doubt good reasons, from the point of view of morale in Hong Kong, for the publicity given in recent weeks to troop arrivals, training, etc. (e.g. the recent announcement made by General Festing at a press conference), there is some substance in the Ambassador Nanking's comments in his telegram 1333.
This telegram has gone to Hong Kong and I do not think it is necessary for us to say anything to them about it The Governor is no doubt aware of the undesirability (both from the point of view of our community in Shanghai and in the interests of Hong Kong if they hope to achieve some sort of modus vivendi and trading relations with the Communists when they reach Canton) of indulging in too many public announcements of the kind recently made by General Festing.
Brigadier Johnson will perhaps advise whether anything can be done or needs to be done with the B.B.C. or Reuters here.
(Sgd.) R. E. Radford
2.9.49.
Mr. Radford.
母
I shall be discussing several points with Reuters today and will mention this; and I will speak to the B.B.C. about
it.
•
The point to remember, however, is that these are mere vehicles of news. If anybody says anything on the H.K. situation, or if any event occurs bearing on it, it is their normal function to report this news, and it would be improper to ask them not to do so. All one can ask is that they will take care not to give such news undue prominence.
The people on whose discretion our future relations with Mao Tse-Tung depend are the generals and the politicians - especially the latter.
(Sgd.) R.F.Johnson
6.9.49.
Since writing my minute of 2/9, I have had some
discussion with Mr.Coates of the F. E. Department, Foreign
Office, about Nanking telegram 1333. They feel that it is
(112) incumbent upon them in the interests of the British community in Shanghai to take whatever action is possible officially to prevent undue publicity being given to the arrival of reinforcements and defence preparations in Hong Kong. With this object in mind, they are considering putting forward the suggestion that their Minister of State should write to the Minister of Defence explaining the position and seeking his assistance in preventing, as far as possible, the emanation
from