CO537-3713 — Page 24

COPY

on 54145/10/48

Original Copy for action an 5+395/48.

54179/48

FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.1.3

12th March, 1948.

(F 3601/154/10)

Confidential

(My dear Mayle),

In paragraph 6 of my letter (F 918/154/10) of the 23rd January, I wrote that we were still con- sidering the problem of the anti-Kuomintang personalities and bodies in Hong Kong and would communicate again with you later.

2. In considering the problem, we have had the benefit of the various despatches from Hong Kong about the Kuomintang Revoluntionary Committee and the Democratic League, e specially Nos.4, 10 and 18 to His Majesty's Ambassador at Nanking of the 12th and 28th January and 18th February respectively.

3. The terms of the Committee's manifesto admittedly provide prima facie evidence of sub- versive intentions. They do not however contemplate preparation for armed action against the Chinese Government or the preparation of crimes against life or property in China. Our Embassy at Nanking, whom we have consulted, state that there is no evidence in their possession that the Committee are planning joint action to overthrow C.K.S. in alliance with the military leaders referred to in Section 3 of Nanking telegram No.35 (copied to Colonial Office under Foreign Office reference F 581/154/10 of the 13th January) or with the Communists, although the likelihood cannot be discounted of some degree of mutual understanding between the two groups. Moreover, as the Embassy point out, .there has been

no

M. L. Mayle Esq.,

Colonial Office.