FO371-46251 — Page 242

Page 242

No. 10.

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Page 242

Home King

TOP SECRET.

F.O 12(18)

FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.1.,

hunter

28th July, 1945.

おす

164

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My dear Foulds,

I enclose a copy of a letter which Sir G. Gater is sending by today's bag to Sir A. Cadogan about Hong Kong. It arises out of the information communicated to our Chiefs of Staff by the U.S. Chiefs of Staff, at their first meeting at TERMINAL, to the effect that a Chinese offensive was being prepared with the object of advancing in the direction of Canton and possibly later to Hong Kong.

2. Up till the opening of the Potsdam Conference there had been no indication as to the moment or the manner of the recapture of Hong Kong. As part of the Chinese mainland it is in Chiang Kai-shek's theatre of command. Nevertheless, until just recently, it has seemed that the most likely way in which it would be recaptured was by a seaborne operation by the Americans; or conceivably by ourselves after arrange- ment with the Americans, seeing that any British expedition would have to pass through the American theatre.

3. Colonial Office plans for the resumption of the administration of Hong Kong have hitherto been based on the assumption that its recapture would be by American or British forces. They are now faced unexpectedly with the necessity of coming to some arrangement with Chiang Kai-shek; and we agree with them that the opportunity of TERMINAL ought to be taken, if possible, to ensure that our attempts to reach such an arrangement do not meet with obstruction from the American

L. H. Foulds Esq.,

TERMINAL.

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