Fc 1261/177
Cypher/OTP
FOREIGN OFFICE DISTRIBUTION
FROM TAMSUI TO FOREIGN OFFICE
31
MT
His Majesty's Consul No. 151
D: 9.40. a.m. 18th May, 1950
R: 11.18. a.m. 18th May, 1950
17th May, 1950
CONFIDENTIAL
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 151 of May 17th, 1950.
Repeated for information to Singapore (and for Allen)
Hong Kong and Peking.
My telegram No. 149
Governor stated unofficially that Nationalist authorities would require the return of the Nationalist soldiers on board the Ethel Moller.
2. If these soldiers do in fact include persons whose return is important to the Nationalists, would it not be possible to delay their return as a bargaining counter for release of some or all remaining British ships, and their crows.
3. is the soldiers were illegally sailing this British ship on the High Sea, their detention for investigation could no doubt be legally justified.
4. The Governor has promised to press once more for early information from Ministry of National Defence regarding the detained British ships and their crews.
5.
Foreign Office please pass Hong Kong and Peking as my telegrams Nos. 87 and 17 respectively.
[Repeated as requested).
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