FO371-23523 — Page 5

Page 5

Page 5

319

Minutes of Interview between H.K. Ambassador

and the Minister of Foreign Affairs

at Chungking, October 11th, 1959.

Also were present Dr. Liu Shih-shun and Sir

Arthur Blackburn.

Japanese request for the withdravel of British

troops and warships from China

Dr. Weng referred to the withdrawal of five

British gunboats from China waters and asked if H.M. Ambassador

could give him any information as to the intention of H.M.

Government regarding the remainder of the British forces

in Chine.

H.M. Ambassador replied that while it was true

thet the Japanese had "advised" all the belligerent Powers

(Britain, France, Germany and Poland) to withdraw their

military and naval forces from China, the decision to

withdraw the five gunboats was taken because some of

vessels and all the personnel were required elsewhere.

these

There

was no immediate intention of withdrawing the remainder of the

gunboats or the militery forces. He had learnt that the

Japanese Government now considered the tendering of the

"advice" to have been a blunder, and that the matter was

unlikely to be pressed.

Dr. Wang expressed satisfaction.

Page 5

Page 5

Page 5Page 6