DRAFT TELEGRAM.
286
No..
59
22/3/43.
H.M. AMBASSADOR,
CHUNGKING.
Sent 22 Mar. 1943. F.O. Tel. No.286
Confidential.
Your telegram No. 181 of 12th February and Chancery letter 549 of 8th December.
Secretary of State for Colonies feels that it would be quite impracticable for him to decide upon individual cases and he would be very grateful if you would dispose of them, giving such
discretion as you think right to Sedgwick, and only refer home any important point of principle.
In consultation with Colonial Office I have had under consideration question of treatment to be accorded to Chinese and Indian employees of Hong Kong Government who have been working in Colony under Japanese occupation authorities. This question is referred to in your telegram No. 165 of 9th February, paragraph 3, your telegram No. 181 of 12th February, paragraph 2, and Chancery letter 549 of 8th December (in particular Ebassy's comment on paragraph 9 of edgwick's letter KKB 40/42 of 7th November).
General attitude of His Majesty's Government for purposes of Political Warfare directives towards population of occupied British territories is that we must be careful not to inspire in those who have been coerced into co-operation with the Japanese (whether directly or by force of circumstances) a fear that our return would lead to their punishment It is important that our treatment of such persons who have now escaped from occupied territory should not be inconsistent with this attitude.
Difficulty
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