Cypher/OTP.
FC 1198/17 Confidential.
OUTWARD TELEGRAM
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION.
FROM FOREIGN OFFICE TO PEKING.
No.800.
12th June, 1950.
D. 8.40 p.m. 12th June, 1950.
CONFIDENTIAL.
44.
(36)
Addressed to Peking telegram No.800 of 12th June repeated for information to Tamsui,
Singapore, Hong Kong.
Your telegram No.729 [of 2nd June: ex Ethel Moller].
Nationalist soldiers.
Should Chinese Government raise the question of these troops you could explain that we had done no more than return to Formosa soldiers, who had fallen into our hands as a result of our own action in recovering possession of a British ship and thus restored the status quo. This was quite distinct from the case of soldiers who had entered Hong Kong as a result of action taken by Chinese forces.
2. We are still endeavouring to ascertain exact position as regards arms and cannot express final views on this aspect of the question, until further information is available. Preliminary view is, that, Nationalists prima facie have a clear legal right to the arms as their property. On the other hand, we appreciate that the Chinese Government may well maintain that the Nationalists are merely insurgents and that return of arms to then constitutes an unfriendly act on our part.
DISTRIBUTED TO:
Far Eastern Department.
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