FO371-46252 — Page 15

الا

Page 15

F. 5231 10716

Fly B

Flay A

beform. Char Ras that 500

Secretary of State.

Minutes.

13

I attach a minute covering a draft telegram to Chungking about informing Chiang Kai-shek of our intention to send a British force to Hongkong.

The draft telegram was awaiting the concurrence of the Chiefs of Staff and was intended to be submitted to you. By an error it was sent off before these stages had been completed. I was able to send a telegram suspending action almost immediately and the question is now whether the telegram should still be acted upon.

Since it was drafted we have received the attached letter from the Chiefs of Staff. You will see that they suggest that a com- munication to Chiang Kai-shek should be delayed until a few hours before our forces are due at Hongkong.

Sir A. Cadogan, whom I have consulted, agrees with me that Chungking should act on our telegram without delay. It does not involve consulting Chiang Kai-shek. simply proposing to inform him.

We are

He will probably not like our action in any case. But he will like it still less and will have more of a grievance if we appear to act surreptitiously and to keep him in the dark until the last moment. It is probable that if we do not inform him in good time he will learn of our plans through General Wedemeyer, since the Americans are already aware of them.

Sir A. Cadogan has suggested that I should send the papers over to you during the Cabinet so that if possible a decision can be taken.

J.C. Steinbele Barnett

14th August 1945.

NOTHING

ΤΟ

BE

WRITTEN

IN

THIS

MARGIN.

Chunghony

an an

تليه كما المتقلب عليه

Tel No 888'

Any 17

Page 15

Page 15

Page 15

Page 15Page 16