FO371-46252 — Page 251

Page 251

[CYPHER].

r. Balfour. No. 5800.

August 23rd, 1945.

INDEXED

GENERAL DISTRIBUTION.

FROM WASHINGTON TO FOREIGN OFFICE.

D. 10.02 p.m. August 23rd, 1945.

R. 5.50 a.m. August 24th, 1945.

Repeated to Chungking.

УУУУУУ

15610

1147 10.

This is certainl

Crypted!

میدان

IMMEDIATE.

My immediately preceding telegram.

- Following is version of relevant part of Secretary of State's Press Conference imparted to us orally by competent

State Department:- Aasperkos

gulcrater-

What is the attitude of United States Government towards the future of Hong Kong?"

Secretary of State: -"I shall not comment on that to-day". After thinking a moment Secretary of State went on: "May I say I do not simply mean when I say that, as to territorial matters because the same question may be in your minds about other territories".

2. Secretary of State went on to say that, as regards any territorial controversy that may arise anywhere, the general position of United States was that it must be taken up at Council of Foreign Ministers.

20fficial

3. Officials [sic] concerned admitted that Secretary of State's statement about Hong Kong was unintelligible and confusing. He maintained that Secretary of State had not intended to imply that Hong Kong would be discussed in Council of Foreign Ministers since United States Government does not consider any territorial controversy exists in respect of Hong Kong.

O.T.P.

а

24

IA II

་

E.Q. REGISTRY

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