6. In view of the circumstances in which this conversation took place, on the eve of my departure, it could be taken, if that should suit His Majesty's Government, cs an opening of the question by the Chinese Government. On the other hand, it could equally be taken as a more or lcss informal message to the effect that the Chinese Government want the question. raised. As was to be expected the Generalissimo made no distinction between the Colony and the leased territory, Speaking throughout of Hong Kong. His omphasis on the psychological aspect of the matter seems to suggest that the question of Sovereignty will be of first-rate importance from the Chinese point of view.
H. J. SEYMOUR.
13th June, 1946.
(F 10070/25/10) No. 314.
FOREIGN OFFICE, S. W. 1.
27th June, 1946.
Sir,
Dr. Wellington Koo came to see the Minister of State
this afternoon.
2. His primary purpose was to take leave before his impending departure for his new post at Washington, to express his great regret that he is leaving London, and his great gratitude to His Majesty's Government for the kindness and help he has always received here. He said that if I rotumed from Paris before he had left he would hope to see me, but in case this did not happen he asked Mr. Noel-Baker to convey to me his warm greetings, his gratitude and his sorrow at leaving this country.
3. The Ambassador then discussed the probable course of events in the Peace Conference in Paris and enquired whether Mr. Noel-Baker thought it possible that the full conference could meet as early as July 15th. Mr. Noel-Baker explained to him the difficulties of making any forecast, but emphasised how much we hoped that it might be possible to get the treatics drawn up before the Assembly meets in New York in September.
4. The Ambassador then recalled that before Sir Horace Seymour had left China Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek had mentioned to him the question of Hong Kong, and he asked whether it was at all likely that conversations on this subject could be opened between our Government with any hope of success in the early future.
5. The Minister of State explained at once to the Ambassador that he thought it unlikely that I would desire to open any new subject of conversation in the early future, i.e. until India, Egypt, Palestine, and other questions
G. A. Wallinger, Esq.,
etc., etc.
Nanking.
9
etc.,
were
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