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[This telegram is of particular secrecy and should be

retained by the authorised recipient and not passed on].

[CYPHER]

No. 969

CABINET DISTRIBUTION

FRO FOREIGN OFFICE TO CHUNGKING

23rd August, 1945

D. 3.05. p.m. 23rd August, 1945

Repeated to Washington No. 8732,

Supreme Allied Command South East Asia

(Mr. Dening) No. 407.

MOST IMMEDIATE

TOP SECRET

8 8 8 8

My telegram No. 967 [of August 22nd: fong ong].

United States Chiefs of Staff have instructed Generals MacArthur and Wedemeyer to arrange for the surrender of Hong Kong to a British Commander "as soon as the military co-ordination with the Generalissimo on operational matters indicated by the President is effected by the British".

2. On being asked by Joint Staff Lission in Washington to pass on to Generals MacArthur and Wedemeyer the assurances which we have given about the use of the port and about military co-ordination with Chiang Kai-shek, so that General MacArthur could issue instructions for the surrender to the British Commander nominated by Admiral Fraser, the United States Chiefs of Staff pointed out that the American stipulation was that co-ordination should be effected by the British with the Generalissimo. They did not feel that the point would be met if they merely passed on our assurances to General Wedemeyer. In order that General Wedemeyer could give the all-clear to General MacArthur, he must have it at first-hand from the Generalissimo that the latter was satisfied that satisfactory co-ordination had been effected with the British. They have shown to Joint Staff Mission a message from General Wedemeyer saying that neither he nor the Generalissimo's Headquarters know anything at present of any negotiations on the subject between the British and Chinese Governments.

3. Please confirm at once that assurances contained in my telegram No. 955 [of August 21st] have been communicated to the Generalissimo.

4. We feel sure that these assurances will satisfy the Generalissimo and we would ask that he should so inform General Wedemyer at once for the information of General MacArthur.

O.T.P.

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