ANNEX
GUARD
243
CYPHER
DEPARTMENTAL No. 1
FROM SUPREME ALLIED COMMAND SOUTH EAST ASIA
Mr. Dening
No: 352
15th August, 1945.
TO FOREIGN OFFICE
Repeated to Chungking,
D. 10.53 a.m. GMT. 15th August, 1945. R. 12.45 p.m. BST. 15th August, 1945.
Washington.
IMMEDIATE
TOP SECRET
GUARD
Following from Dening.
Chungking telegram No. 835 to you.
As you are no doubt aware the american officers in this H.Q. have seen Cossea 314 which states specifically that it is highly important that we should accept surrender of Hong Kong.
2.
It seems to me that we may well get into difficulties if we conceal our purpose in China when we have revealed it elsewhere.
3. One thing which is to my mind essential and which has not been mentioned in telegrams on this subject is that it should be indicated to Japanese that they should surrender to the British. While this is not strictly my concern I suggest that our best course would be to state this openly to the Americans at the same time that we notify them of our intention to take executive action to secure Japanese surrender. It seems to me that the position can be made clear to the Japanese either through the medium of overall surrender terms or by attempt to establish contact through the following channels –
(a) the Protecting Power or Vatican
(b) by contact with a local Japanese commander in China, or (c) by dropping leaflets by R....F. aircraft over Hong Kong (these could if necessary be prepared by our P.W. Division and flown to Kunming).
O.T.P.
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