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by the military authorities as soon as possible after re- occupation, This is, of course, one of the matters which would be discussed by General Olmsted with the economic liaison officer, whose appointment I recommend in my despatch under reference: but in the end, if anybody is able to ensure that rehabilitation is carried out in a rational and proper manner, it will be the officers actually in the field. In this connection too we imagine that the mission would be available at a later stage to give information and make suggestions to the officials of U. N. R. R. As when they come into the picture, and in due course to hand over the care of British interests to His Majesty's consular officers when they return to their districts.
7. Finally there is, one may hope, a possibility that the advancing armics may release a number of British prisoners of war and civilian internces, and it would clearly be desirable, and I consider it important, that they should have some British authority to whom they can turn for guidance and can impart any imformation which may be of value from the intelligence standpoint.
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The above description of what we feel might be the future additional functions of the British Military Mission will be a guide towards the selection of its additional personnel. We suppose that consideration has already been given in London to the availability of men with China experience for work of this kind, It is clearly desirable that the G. O. Co should have a political adviser with adequate military rank to guide him in his dealings with Chinese officers and officials and to assist him through the labyrinths of Chinese politics and of the Chinese way of doing things, Morcover this officer would provide a channel for continuous contact and consultation with this Embassy.
90 I have not, in this despatch, considered the special case of Hong Kong, plans in respect of which arc, I understand, the subject of study in London. Moreover I am not aware whether any steps have been taken to allocate officers to the American Pacific Commands or to the British Pacific Fleet, to handle the problems which would arise out of a military re-occupation of Hong Kong or indeed of any other point or points on the China coast from the sea. The considerations adduced in the preceding paragraphs in respect of operations from the interior of China apply, in our view, with equal or greater force to sea-borne landings; and we would consider that it should be a further duty of the proposed liaison mission in due course to establish contact either with British invading forces (if such are engaged) or with any British missions which may be attached to Allied commands.
10. With regard to the steps to be taken towards the acceptance of such a mission it is in our opinion clear that the approach must be made to the Generalissimo as the Supreme Commander of the China Theatre. The form and manner of this approach and the question whether the proposal should first be cleared either here with General Wedemeyer or in Washington with the American chiefs of staff
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