INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES
Cypher (0.T.P.)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir A. Grantham)
D. 20th April 1950. R. 20th
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#1
RAS
201800
C.
08.05 hrs.
PRIORITY
No. 417. Secret.
Addressed to S. of S.
Repeated to Tamsui, No. 25.
*?
RECEIVED
26 APR 190U
COLONIAL OFFICE
"Peking, No. 47. (S. of S. please
pass to both).
20 My telegram No. 382.
Ex-Nationalist Soldiers.
We have further considered this problem. Since question was first raised, many of these so-called soldiers who have arrived are not in fact Nationalist soldiers and even those who are represent dismissed or abandoned soldiery who can be considered to have reverted to civilian status and are better regarded as distressed Chinese subjects. They have been disowned and neglected by communist authorities and many have expressed desire to go to Formosa.
2. Executive Council, with whom I have again discussed the problem, feel strongly that those who wish to go to Formosa should not be prevented. Some have found ways of proceeding there themselves. Provided their entry into Formosa can be arranged e.g. through medium of Tung Wah Hospital, we see no reason why they should not be sent there. This will represent a considerable saving of expense to this Government, which is faced with a mounting burden,
3. We propose to allow those who can find their own way to proceed, but we will await your approval before proceeding with any plan to send those more properly identifiable as ex-soldiers. As regards the latter, we see no reason to expect protest from communists, particularly if they are sent in small batches, since communists themselves have done nothing for them and have shown no interest in them.
(Copies sent to F.0. for transmission to Tamsui and Peking)