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[This telegram is of particular secrecy and should be retained by the authorised recipient and not passed on).
F
/G.
[CYPHER]
CABINET DISTRIBUTION
FROM FOREIGN OFFICE TO CHUNGKING
53
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No. 1001
28th August, 1945.
D. 2.0 p.m. 28th August, 1945.
Repeated to Washington No. 8913
Supreme Allied Command South East Asia No. 431.
MOST I MEDIATE
TOP SECRET
[ ] [ ] [ ]
Your telegram No. 958 [of August 27th: Hong Kong].
We very sincerely regret this difference of opinion with the Generalissino over the surrender of enemy forces in Hong Kong and we should not like him to think that we fail to appreciate his point of view as Commander-in-Chief China theatre. We must however point out that we are unable to agree that his claim to delegate power to accept surrender is in accordance with Allied arrangements. Supreme Commander, Gere ral MacArthur, has received instructions from the United States Chiefs of Staff to arrange for the surrender of Hong Kong to a British Commander to be nominated by Admiral Fraser, subject only to the completion of military co-ordination between the Generalissimo and ourselves on operational matters in connexion with facilities which we have undertaken to grant through the Hong Kong area for the assistance of the Chinese and American forces in China.
2. We would nevertheless like to settle this question in complete agreement with Chiang-Kai-shek, since we attach the greatest importance to our good relations with China.
3. We hope therefore that he will not press his claim to delegate his authority in this matter. It is fully within his power to waive it by unilateral action in favour of the Co mander of the British force. We sincerely hope that he will decide to take this course, in which event we on our side would take an early opportunity to make an appreciative public reference to his action.
O.T.P.
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