FO371-24687 — Page 269

Page 269

NOTHING

TO BE WRITTEN

IN

THIS

MARGIN.

نہیں

Registry

No: F 1741/177/10

Draft.

J.H-M.

Colonial Øffice.

Page 269

F.O.

OUT FILE

16th March

14 a

181

1940.

Page 269

Sir,

With reference to Colonial Office letter

No. 53838/35/40 of the 29th February, I am

directed by Viscount Halifax to enclose a

copy of a telegram from H.M. Ambassador at

Tokyo on the subject of the release and

repatriation of the Chinese soldiers at

present interned at Hong Kong.

2.

In view of the present delicate

state of Anglo-Japanese relations, Lord

Halifax agrees with Sir R. Craigie that it

would be inopportune to release the prisoners

thin E

at the present moment. He would therefore

suggest that consideration of this question

should be deferred for the moment. While

fully appreciating the difficulties

to the God of Hong Kong by

prisoners

Cauord

the

in the

he would therefore auggest

presence of

these

colony,

that conside, ati on

of

This

Suceation

should

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