FO371-46253 — Page 192

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NOTHING

TO

BE

WRITTEN

IN

THIS

MARGIN.

Registry

No.

Page 192

158

Draft.

Colonel Mallaby,

Cabinet Offices.

Toje Secret

Dear Mallaby,

25 August 1945.

I am writing to you at Stapleton's in Roger Allewa's temporary abrence

estion about JP° (45) 208 (Final) of

August 23rd.

2

It is of course for the Chiefs of Staff

alone to judge what are the most convenient

arrangements for Command at Hong Kong from

the military angle. We are only concerned

with the foreign reactions of their decision.

From this point of view I should like

to emphasise the importance of avoiding any-

thing which Chiang Kai-shek can interpret

3.

as "jumping" him. I sincerely hope he may

not raise further difficulty about the surren-

our bruch walth then abriut there arrangements der arrangements, but they will probably leave

him somewhat touchy for a time.

4. So far as I am aware there is no agree-

ment yet between all concerned for the

abolition or modification of the theatre

commands as they existed prior to the Japanese

surrender. It is possible that Chiang Kai-shek

expects the China theatre to go on as before,

i.e. including Hong Kong, until some decision

is reached by the Combined Chiefs of Staff,

in agreement with him, for taking Hong Kong out

of it.

5

If before any steps have been taken

to arrange matters on these lines, he learns

that we have made independent arrangements

herbajes

about Comand - and especially in-view-of

past history if we claim to transfer the

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