CO129-591-13 Military Administration- proposed civil Affairs Agreement with China 20-7-1945 - 11-8-1945 — Page 14

A most embarrassing situation may therefore arise in the event

of Hong Kong being liberated by Chinese forces unless there is

olcar agreement with Chiang Ini Shek in advance as to our role

in the administration of Hong Kong

5.

Gencral Wedemeyer's position as Chief of staff to the

Generalissimo is such that any agreement of this nature, and the

mengures necessary to implement it, would în practice require

his support and co-operation. Both the British (.0.0. in China

and Ceneral Carton de Wiart have formed the impression that

General Wedemøyer is personally opposed to any action by the

British in China directed to the reoccupation of Hong Kong, and

that he would in any case feel obliged to refor any matter of

this kind to Washington

G

In those circumstances it secnu very desirable that,

before approaching Chiang Kai thek, we should make sure of

American support for our proposal. If those negotiations, first

with the ricans and then with the Chinese, are conducted

through the usual channels there is a danger that they may

drag on for coveral months, whereas as indicated in paragraph 1,

timo may be very short.