CO537-5132 — Page 112

[This telegram is of particular secrecy and should be retained by the authorised recipient and not passed on]

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

Cypher/OTP

FROM NANKING TO FOREIGN OFFICE

23

Sir R. Stevenson .No.1141

D.4.23 a.m. 2nd August, 1949.

1st August, 1949. R.7.27 a.m. 2nd August, 1949.

Repeated to Singapore

Hong Kong

F

5 AUG 1949

SECRET

But there is

already

~

PRO

2

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No.1141 1st August, repeated for information to Singapore and Hong Kong.

My immediately preceding telegram. -(attached)

In view of the importance of the post and the delicacy and complexity of the China situation, particularly as regards relations between Hong Kong and a Communist occupied Canton functions of officer in the case described in paragraph 2 of Singapore telegram No.546 to Foreign Office would clearly require that the person selected should possess considerable judgment and ability He should also be as well as experience in the Far East. assured of adequate pay allowances and other service benefits. In these circumstances it is worth considering whether title of assistant to the Political Adviser would be in fact sufficiently senior. It might be therefore preferable to make a virtue out of necessity and openly describe him as Information Adviser to the Government or Officer in Charge of Information or Publicity Department. Such frankness might disarm rather than invite suspicion on his activities and interest in the Press and propaganda. I doubt if any of the personnel of His Majesty's Embassy Information Service in China possess the requisite qualifications.

2. In connexion with the general question of methods of propaganda to be adopted I would invite reference to paragraph 2 (a) of my telegram No.1053 of 16th July to you quoting certain principles relating to United States publicity which bear interesting similarity to those repeated in paragraph 1 of my telegram unde reference. (I should be grateful if Singapore would send a copy of the above telegram No. 1053 by safe hand to Hong Kong to whom it was not repeated).

Foreign Office please pass to Hong Kong as my telegram No.286.

[Copy sent to Telegraph Section Colonial Office for retransmission to Hong Kong].

F