- 2 -
TOP SECRET
F.O. telegram No. 967 to Singapore.
6.
With reference to paragraph 2 of Nanking telegram No. 1140 we do not of course envisage that material disseminated in Hong Kong would actually appear in Communist-controlled Chinese press in China, and we recognise the possibility that the Chinese press in Hong Kong will toe the Communist line progressively as Communist hegemony becomes established in China. It would however surely be a function of the officer in question to discover and exploit channels by which true information could be given currency in the Colony and would thereby have some effect through the grape-vine in China itself.
7.
We are, of course, envisaging, as I am sure do you, that any directive should be arrived at in consultation with His Majesty's Embassy in Nanking and with other authorities involved. Perhaps it would help to crystallise the issue if you were to telegraph a draft directive now.
Nanking telegram No. 1141, paragraph 1, last sentence, appears to conflict with your telegram No.582 9th August. We agree that it is essential to obtain the services of somebody of sufficiently high calibre in this post, and that it would be worse than useless to employ anyone without very good qualifications.
(23) - 8.
V V V
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.