FO371-23523 — Page 110

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215

1939

RegistryF 12644/3918/10 Number

TELEGRAM FROM

Sir A. Clark Kerr,

Shanghai)

No.

Dated

Received

1362 Decypher

Immediate 13th Dec.1939

in Registry 13th Dec.1939

F: China

Page 110

F

CHINA

12644

68

13 DEC 1939

Withdrawal of gunboats.

Refers to Foreign Office telegram No.1209 (F 12538/3918/10). Whole point of his suggestion was that announcement of withdrawal from Upper River and Lower River should be simultaneous in order to meet susceptibilies of Chinese Government. that announcement of withdrawal from Lower River

Urges should be deferred until similar announcement can be made about Upper River.

(Repeated Chungking No. 648 Tokyo No.813, Commander in Chief No.392, Rear Admiral Yangtse No.118).

Last Paper.

F12598

References.

(Print.)

(How disposed of.)

Appy Paris

اع فله

Kerr

(Minutes.)

us sufficient

The Ray. hardly gave us

trine (only three days), and Sir A. Clark

may with reason have felt rushed over the announcement. I think however

it was

ридешь

have

wele and the

our for

legitimate for us to assume that the Ray. concerted his telegram to the Cin C. before despatch. The reasons,

- threefold but they must of Copy Aborty (In Wallon) course be obvious to Su A. Clark Kover: on F12657 dec 13 they were @ the necessity for the early

relief of Hus. Gnat (CinC's tel. to Admr. ton

232 98th November in F11734) © Admiral on F12659 Copy Wo orbal) Oikawa's request reported in R.A.Y's tel.to on F12659 Dec14 Cin C. 716 of 28th October (F/1376), and, arising

Fiab sty decid

out of that, the possibilit of Japse inzistence on withdrawal with consequent loss of prestige (CinC's tel. to Admit of 23rd September), and © desirabilit of conforming our action Ihr to that taken by French (F12303)! As regardo

the susceptibilities of the Chinese Goot, we had Huse in mind, and the announcement

(Action completed.)

(Igdox.)

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F12645

20009 10/39 F.O,P.

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