FO371-23517 — Page 43

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TELE

2657

SECRET

From:-

War Office

То

M.A. Tokyo

335

Dusp. 1500 9/12/39

Repeated G.O.C. Hong Kong

G.S.0.1 (Intelligence) Far East Singapore

61816 cipher M.I.2. 9/12.

Reference G.0.C. Hong Kong 6104 of 4/12 and 6135 of 7/12 to War

Office repeated to you. We have had no formal notification of proposed

relief of Ishino by Suzuki and are in complete agreement with views of

G.0.C. Hong Kong expressed in telegrams under reference. On presumption

that you have had no notification either, you should seek immediate

interview with War Ministry and make the following points. Strength of

your representations is left to your discretion.

Begins. (1) We consider despatch of proposed relief without obtaining out

previouse consent highly irregular.

(ii) Ishino's appointment was allowed only as a quid pro quo

for Winterborn's attachment in Formosa; there is no question of our having

agreed to permanence of the appointment.

(iii) We might agree to accept a successor to Ishino on condition

that we receive a substantial quid pro quo.

(iv) If the Japanese are unable to make any useful suggestions as

to a suitable quid pro quo, we will have to ask for romoval of Ishino's

successor from Hong Kong. Ends.

Policy.

The question of return of British Language Officers to Japan

is still pending, and should this be mentioned by the Japanese as a suitable

return for our allowing a relief for Ishino, we are prepared to consider it.

Otherwise we cannot see that any useful purpose is served in repeating such arrangements as Winterbom's Formosan attachment, which was a failure and shall have to consider taking steps to have Ishino's successor recalled.

C.4. (Telegrams)

Copies to:** M: 0.1. 2. 20-

M.1.1.2.2c.

M.I.I

Mr. Hove (F.0)

Commander Barr (Admiralty) Wing Commander Grent (Air Ministry)

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