CO537-4998 — Page 109

(8681) Wt. 15174/D85 30m 6/48 C. & Co. 745(8)

TOP SECRET CYPHER TELEGRAM

$4001/201

WARNING The text of this message must be thoroughly paraphrased if it is to be published or otherwise communicated to persons outside the British or U.S. Government Service, If re-transmitted unparaphrased, the originator must mark it to be sent in "O.T.P." (One-Time Pad).

OZ TOO

5414

/

40.

Mr JC Morg MLO.

(28).

ROUTINE

From :

To

Rptd :

0514402

TOD 0516552

Ministry of Defence, London

G. H. Q. Far East Land Forces

Land Forces, Hong Kong

COSSEN 668

5th.March,1949.

For FEDSEC for British Defence Co-ordination Committee from Chiefs of Staff.

The Chiefs of Staff agree with the views of the British Defence Co-ordination Committee, Far East, expressed in SEACOS 881.

2

We agree with your assessment of reinforcements to meet emergency in Hong Kong. One Brigade Group is to be held in readiness for possible reinforcement overseas, including FARELF, from April until the end of 1949 (details will be subject of separate communication from War Office in answer to FARELF 13620/GO of 24th. February).

3

It is NOT possible to guarantee that we shall be able to send all the reinforcements you might want; this will depend on the world situation at the time.

4.

Further, although we consider it would be desirable to forestall emergency in Hong Kong by reinforceing you now, we are informing Ministers that we do not consider it justifiable to lock up any part of the small world reserve in the Far East. In the event, therefore, subject to the availability of shipping, you may have to wait for some twɔ months before reinforcements arrive.

We have now

Reference COSSEA 666 paragraph 4(b). heard from Colonial Office that essential wiring could be done in four days. In these circumstances we accept view

of Governor and Local Defence Committee that wiring should not be carried out until threat appears imminent.

CIRCULATION

D. C. O. R.

Foreign Office.

Har Registry, Admiralty.

Message Control, War Office.

Registry Telegrams, Air Ministry.

Chief of Combined Operations Staff.

Secretary of State for the Colonies. Colonel Leisching.

TOO 051440Z