CO129-591-14 Military Administration- liaison with Chinese and American forces 11-4-1945 - 25-7-1945 — Page 80

$8

6lh

(F 3173/917/10)

813

12

FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.1.

6th June, 1945.

My dear Gent,

I

Thank you for your letter of the 25th May about arrangements for liaison with the American and Chinese military authorities.

There are in fact two proposals involved, and we

are dealing with them separately.

In the first place General Olmsted, Head of G-5, United States Army Headquarters in China, wants a British officer to be available to him for consultation on problems arising out of the re-occupation of Chinese ports, primarily with a view to tapping resources in the shape of British owned utilities and other properties which may be usfeul to the liberating forces. This proposal is dealt with in Chungking telegram No.357 and Chungking despatches Nos. 411 and 425. It is suggested that this officer should be a member of the Briti sh Military Mission.

#2

Chungking telegram No.379 and Chungking despatch No.424 put forward a wider proposal that a full British Ziaison Mission should be established with Chinese

General Headquarters. The object of this mission would be not only to receive and supply military information, and to discuss problems arising from British military assistance, but also to collect political and economic information and to furnish the Chinese and American Commands with information about British property and facilities, and to assist in safeguarding British subjects and property pending the appointment of Consular officers. This proposal has not yet been discussed with the Americans or submitted to the Generalissimo.

G. E. J. Gent, Esq., C.M.G., D.S.0.,

Colonial Office.

We/

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