From:-Lieut. Colonel B.F. Montgomery M.B.E.
6.
NATIONAL
CHEME
MEN
The War Office,
TOP SECRET
Whitehall,
108
S.W.1.
10)
DISABLED
DO/J/2/M.1.2
Dear Gent.
14 th January 1945
As agreed at our meeting on Thursday last, I attach here- with the third draft of the Hongkong directive signal. This has now been agreed in the War Office by the M.O., M.I. and Civil Affairs Directorates.
As you know the Civil Affairs Dte is of opinion that this telegram should be agreed at a high or even a ministerial level before dispatch. I understand you will now arrange for the Secretary of State for the Colonies formally to approach the Secretary of State for war on the matter. I hope when he does do so the background of the case will be explained to our S of S as set out in the record by M.I.9 of the first meeting on the project held in your office, of which you have a copy. I suggest also that the communication to our S of S should enclose the attached draft with an endorsement to the affect that it has been prepared as a result of consultation between the branches concerned in the two ministries. In the War Office those branches are the M.O. Dte, the C.A. Dte. and the M.I. Dte, the latter acting as sponsor in the matter solely because they have the necessary military contacts in China.
At the time when the matter was first raised by the Colonial Office the D's of I India and S.E.A.C. and the .A. Chungking were in London and opportunity was therefore taken to acquaint them of the proposal in advance.
yours smeerly
870 alpom
G.E.J. Gent Esq 0.B.E.,D.S.O.,.C.
Colonial Office
Downing St. S.W.1
REC
:D
26 JAN 1945
C.
EGY
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