FO371-46253 — Page 53

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Registry

No. F 5850/1147/4.

J.C.S.B.

Draft.

Page 53

MOST IMMEDIATE.

F5850

76

43

FOREIGN OFFICE, S.W.1.

Despatched →

August, 1945.

M.

THIS

MARGIN.

Mr

Balfour,

WASHINGTON.

Telegram.

No....

8564

Aug 19

Cypher 0.T.P.

Cabinet dist.

Z. Repeat to:

NOTHING

TO

BE

WRITTEN

Chungking 930

Mr. Dening,

Kandy.

379

4

It may be useful for you to know that we

are endeavouring to play down sensational

stories of a race between ourselves and the

Chinese to receive Japanese surrender in Hong

Kong and are indicating in reply to press

enquiries that there is no foundation for

suggestion that a serious Sino-British political

issue has been raised. We understand that

Chinese Embassy in London is adopting similar

attitude.

2.

Line we are taking is that stories no doubt

arise from the fact that Chiang Kai-shek is the

Supreme Allied Commander in the China Theatre.

But Hong Kong is a British colony and it is

natural that it should be reoccupied by the

forces of the sovereign power. Whole procedure

fof the rapid acceptance of the Japanese surrender

at key points of which Hong Kong is one is being

elaborated in consultation between all concerned

within the framework of a general plan under the

Supreme Commander, General MacArthur.

براد تاک

Aug 19

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