COPY CIPHER VELBORAN. Original registered on 54144/7/545
TELEGRAM.
ONE TIME PAD.
From Britmis Chungking.
To: The War Office.
IMPORTANT.
Recd. 201740 Jul 45.
D. T.O. 200900 H.
0/0114 Cipher 20 Jul 45.
TOP SECRET.
GUARD repeat GUARD. 230
54144/4/46 (Ax)·
Ref your 58502 (M.0.12) July 9th.
Have discussed question with Ambassador and General Carton de Wiart and we are agreed project suggested is not now practical. Following represents our combined opinions.
1.
Project is closely bound up with American attitude still tending to harden towards British military organisations in China. Americans regard China as their theatre and barely tolerate our presence here at all.
2.
They are in any case extremely suspicious of our activities and I face continual crises, obstructions, pin pricks and the like. Hitherto these difficulties have been mitigated by a policy of complete frankness with Wedemeyer on the part of General Carton de Wiart and myself. We are both completely committed to keeping him informed of all (repeat all) we do in the military field. On any other basis we would have had to close down completely some months ago.
3.
We both have gained the impression that Wedemeyer is personally opposed to any action by the British in China directed to the reoccupation of Hong Kong. Canton is now known to be one of the objectives of forthcoming offensive by American trained (? concentration) of Chinese Combat Command and it may be that Hong Kong is another. On the other hand I have no doubt that China Combat Command even with extensive help from the sea including necessary landing draft and other special equipment will have great difficulty capturing Hong Kong island if Japanese suicide garrison fight to last.
4.
In unlikely contingency Japanese garrison choosing to surrender possibility that China Combat Command will be forestalled into Hong Kong by local Chinese communist guerillas cannot be ruled out. Indeed according to latest reports of Japanese belonging to Communist (? word omitted) Japanese themselves may connive at such a course.
5.
Only British available close at hand for task in question are small elements of British Army aid group. Have had greatest difficulty clearing them with Americans and any attempt on my part to build them up will certainly be viewed by Americans with grave suspicion and will meet every sort of obstacle.
6.
In view of para 2 above any leakage of our plans will prejudice if not destroy British military position in China which is already deplorably weak. B.A.A.G. is watched and reported on by both local Americans and Chinese. It is still regarded with suspicion by both and my own view isAmericans at all events have already concluded it has some future role in connection with Hong Kong.
7.
All (2 groups undecipherable) country is of course controlled by the Chinese and Americans have a hand in it too. Without agreement with both it will probably be impossible for even bare minimum personnel to move into Hong Kong under any circumstances. A few might conceivably get themselves smuggled
/through
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