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SECRET CYPHER TELEGRAM

A6834/126

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-Timą Pad).

COM ATIONS

16 SEP 1949 RE STRY

From: G.H.Q. Far East Land Forces

То

Ministry of Defence, London

SEACOS 966

IZ 2637 TOO 091700GH (091030A)

TOR 092309A

9th September 1949

From FEDSEC.

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

We learn from Foreign Office telegram to Nanking No, 859 of 30th July that the proposal to Increase the power of Hong Kong radio transmitters has been rejected because of the cost and the possi- bility of effective jamming and we understand that the Governor of Hong Kong taking political factors into consideration concurs.

2.

We are concerned in general that any opportunity of increasing our propaganda output to China should be lost and venture to hope that urgent consideration is being given, to alternative methods of increasing our broadcasting to China.

3.

In this connection we wonder also whether the imminent removal of all live broadcasting from the British Far Eastern Broadcasting Service to London which was decided on two years ago has been reconsidered in the present changed and rapidly

We understand changing circumstances of cold war. that the ground for this withdrawal is that the local B.F.E.B.S. transmitters are too weak to warrant the extra cost of the staff to undertake live broadcasting. Our information here is that the present transmitters can be heard woll in North China. Moreover there should be a more varied supply of Chinese linguists here than in London.

4.

We do not know-to-what extent the use, direct or indirect, of Manila Radio has been considered but we feel that in the present position any possibility that` is likely to increase the chances of reaching China by radio, which is perhaps the best and probably almost the only medium of propaganda we will have during the coming months, is worth study. CIRCULATION

D.C.O.R.

Foreign Office

War Registry, Admiralty Message Control, War Office

TOO 091700GH

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Registry Telegrams, Air Ministry Chief of Combined Operations Staff S. of S. for the Colonies Colonel Leisching

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