CO129-591-18 Liberation of Hong Kong- arrangements for Japanese surrender 15-8-1945 - 19-4-1946 — Page 217

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218

(iv) Report by Joint Planning Staff

J.P.(45) 215 (Final)

THE COMMITTEE then went through "serintim" a report by the Joint Planning Staff on the results of their examination of General Order No. 1 from the President to General MacArthur, telegram J.S.M. 8, Australia

X telegram No. 240 and a memorandum by the Air Ministry together with telegram J.S.M. 9 on the disposal of the "SHIELD" and "VACUUM" components of the "TIGER" force.

With reference to paragraph 10 of the report, Sa SIR ANDREW CUNNINGHAM handed round sopies of a signal which had been sent to the British Pacific Fleet regarding our right to send ships to the China ports independently of the Americans if H.M. Government so directed.

It was agreed that this telegram did not conflict with the assurance at the end of telegram II to Annex V of the report.

With regard to the recommendations put forward by the Joint Planning Staff concerning the disposal of the "TIGER" force, SIR CHARLES PORTAL said that he was in agreement with these proposals and added that the Air Ministry would also have to inform the Australian, New Zealand and South African Governments.

THE COMMITTEE then approved certain amendments to the draft telegrams at Annex V to the report as a result of President Truman's telegram No. 6.

THE COMMITTEE:

A

(a) Took note of General Gairdner's telegram (CHG 23), and agreed to take no action

on it;

(b) Took note of telegram No. 6 from the

President to the Prime Minister regarding the acceptance of the surrender of Hong Kong by a British officer, and instructed the Secretary to draft, and circulate for their approval, a telegram to the Joint Staff Mission and a letter to the Foreign Office on the lines agreed in discussion;

(c) Approved the despatch to the Joint

Staff Mission, to C.-in-C. British Pacific Fleet,' to S...C.S.F.A. and to the Australian Government' of the relevant draft telegrams at Annex V to the J.P. report, as amended in discussion;

X C.0.S.(45) 174

Admiralty No. 191939/August Approved and sont as Cos(W) 69

Annox IV

Sont ac COS(w) 66, 67 and 68

sunt no No. 20-17221 2017 22 A (see

Sent

Sont as COS3M 327 and 328

H Sent as No. 312

8

T

(see corrigenda)