FO371-46253 — Page 61

Minutes.

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seems to make it clear beyond doubt that it is H.M.G. who are resuming full territorial pos- session. The solution therefore has much in its favour. But the Colonial Office are un- willing to consider it as in their view there can be no distinction between the surrender of the territory and that of the forces who have occupied it. An alternative solution which they are willing to recommend to the Colonial Secretary is that the surrender should be accepted jointly by Admiral Harcourt signing on behalf of H.M.G. and a British officer (preferably General Hayes, the G.0.C. British Troops in China who is under Chiang Kai-shek's orders in that capacity) signing as the repre- sentative of Chiang Kai-shek; any other Allied representatives who are present (e.g. Canadian, Chinese, American) signing as witnesses.

The analogy to the surrender of German forces in Holland to the C.in C. 21st Army Group, suggested by General Carton de Wiart to General Ismay in his telegram No. 1686 of August 26th (Flag D) is, I am informed by the Chiefs of Staff Secretariat, no real analogy at all. I understand that Field Marshal Montgomery simply signed on behalf of General Eisenhower as Supreme Allied Commander. But Field Marshal Montgomery was not resuming the occupation of British territory and General Eisenhower was in a position more nearly akin to that of General MacArthur than of Chiang Kai-shek.

The Secretary of State when he discussed the telegram with me this evening asked whether our insistence on taking the surrender in Hong Kong was consistent with what was being done in regard to the surrender in Dutch or French territories in the Far East. It is true that in these territories Admiral Mountbatten is to take the surrender and French or Dutch officers are to be associated with him. But the case differs in this respect, that the French and Dutch are without adequate forces on the spot to take the surrender themselves, while in Hong Kong we are in a position to do so; and it is therefore the natural thing that we should do so.

Juice the alre

J.C Standale Bennett

27th August 1945.

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