CO129-591-18 Liberation of Hong Kong- arrangements for Japanese surrender 15-8-1945 - 19-4-1946 — Page 136

136

Mr

840 1945

Pashin

Colonial Office.

[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be kept

F5762/186/10.

[En clair]

Sir H. Seymour.

No. 935.

under Lock and Key.]

47A

With the Compliment

Under Sea·.

GENERAL DISTRIBUTION

Bar Formigo Affairs

FROM CHUNGKING TO FORLIGE OFFICE

25th August, 1945.

D: 5.00 p.m. 26th August, 1945. R: 4.15 p.m. BST 26th August, 1945.

IMPORTANT

Following is text of Central News Press release reporting Generalissimo's speech to joint meeting yesterday of National Defence Council and Central Executive Committee,

[Begins]

"The re-establishment of China's territorial and administrative integrity in three north-eastern provinces, recovery of Formosa and Pescadores, and restoration of independence of Korea are most important ains of national revolution". Failure to realise these aims, President Chiang emphasised, "will mean that our national independence and freedom will never be restored and the goal of our arned resistance reached". He urged entire nation to unite in concerted effort to hasten accomplishment of aforesaid tasks. Stressing the fact that principle of nationalism as expounded by Sun Yat Sen aims at safeguarding world peace and national stability, President Chiang said outer Mongolia should be granted independence and Tibet autonomy. Outer Mongolia, due to its secludedness, is different from other outlying provinces and has long been regarded as a "brother state" in fact since the time of Peking Government, outer Mongolia has become an independent entity. Considering this fact, outer Mongolia should be formally granted independence so that relations between these two peoples will become all the more cordial and friendly.

As regards Tibet, it was decided at sixth National Kuomintang Congress to grant autonomy to Tibetans. Should Tibetan people now make known their aspiration for self government, Government will not hesitate to accord them a full autonomous status.

In enforcement of the principle of nationalism President Chiang continued, Chinese Government and people must give every possible assistance to other nations which possess self governing power and the spirit of independence in attaining their ends. In this connexion he pointed out that Burma, Sian and Indo-China should be also friendly helped in their independence movement in the letter and spirit of the Atlantic Charter and three peoples principles.

Turning