FO371-46252 — Page 238

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NOTHING TO

BE

WRITTEN

IN

THIS

MARGIN.

Registry

NO. F 5589/14/G

Page 238

Draft.

H.M.Ambassador,

Chungking.

Telegram.

No.

984

Date. 25.8.HS.

Cypher. 0.T.P.

Repeat to

Washington

No. 2818.

Mr. Dening, Kandy,

No. 22.

Cabinet Distribu-

tion.

Advance cafus t

Col Price

MOST IMMEDIATE.

TOP SECRET.

Your

Date August 1945.

Desrighing

Ved

y telegram No. 909 of August 23rd:

Hongkong7.

H.M.G. are of course anxious to reach

a mutually satisfactory arrangement with

Chiang Kai-shek. But they do not doubt that

Chiang Kai-shek will understand their feeling

that Great Britain must re-establish the

status quo in Hongkong on the defeat of Japan,

and that they therefore much regret that they

find themselves unable to accept his suggestion

that the Officer Commanding the British Force

( the Japanese in should accept the surrender of this British

territory as the Generalissimo's delegate.

2.

As already indicated H.M.G. would

of course welcome the presence of a representa-

tive of Chiang Kai-shek in Hongkong on the

occasion of the surrender. If he decides to

nominate an American officer as well as a

Chinese officer that would be equally agreeable

to H.M. G.

3. The surrender would be accepted by

the British Officer in Command of the British

Force, who would be empowered for this duty

under General Order No. 1., but the Chinese

and American officers delegated by Chiang Kai-

(Calmet offices) shek would attend as representatives of the

ben. Esmay

((xchat offers)

n

(wered offis?

26

Supreme Commander of the China theatre, and on

the assumption that there will be a surrender

document they would also sign it as witnesses

in that capacity.

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