FO371-46254 — Page 141

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Enclosed in Despatch No.899 - S30/26

oreign Office, No.892 --824/26

Dening Esq., e..., O.B.E., No.123 B.M. Embassy, Washington, No.19 G.O.C.

General Carton de Wiart

GUARD

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TOP BLOKET

118

REORANDUM

The text of the neorendies of August 16th which was presented by the acting Minister for Foreign Affairs to the Counsellor of His Majesty's mbassy was duly communicated to Mla Kajesty's Goverment in the United Kingdom »

His Majesty's Government have considered this memorandum and regret that they cannot share the Chinese interpretation of the General Order issued to the Allied Supreme Cormander.

As regards Hong Kong, the General Order provides that His Excellency The President of the Republic of China shall accept the surrender of Japanese Commanders "within China. This cannot, in the view of llie Majesty's Government, be interpreted as including Hong Kong. As stated in the comunication of August 16th from liis Majesty'e Ambassador to the Aoting Minister for 10-eign Affairs, His Majesty's Government consider that, irrespective of the confines of an operational theatre, wherever a sovereign Power has aufficient forces available, it should resume its authority and accept the Japanese surrender in its own territory. Moreover Mis Kajesty's Government feel confident that, as a soldier himself, His Excellency the President will understand that, as the United Kingdom was forced to relinquish possession of Hong Kong to the Japanose, it is a matter of honour for His Majesty's

118 Government to accept the Japanese surrender there. Majesty's Government would, however, welcome the presence of a Representative of the President in Hong Kong on the occasion of the acceptance by a British Force of the Japanese surrender and they trust that this arrangement will prove satisfactory to the Chinese Government.

they

As regards Saigon, Wie linjesty's Government wish the Chinese Government to appreciate their standpoint: consider that the proposals made in the basay's memorandum of August 16th accord fully, in fact, with the terms of tho General Crder to the Allied suprase Commander.

In this case

also, however, His Majesty's Government would be glad to welcome the presence of a Representative of ille Excellency the President of China at the surrender ceremony at Saigon.

TRITION APPASSY,

ONUWKIMO.

19th August, 1945.

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