FO371-46259 — Page 167

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TOP SECRET CYPHER TELEGRAM

WARNING This message must be thoroughly paraphrased if its text is to be published or communicated outside British or American Services or Departments. If re-transmitted unparaphrased other than through the Cabinet Office, the originator must mark the message "to be sent in One-Time Pad.”

Enter

12071

OZ 7221

TOO 171945Z

TOD 1720232 21 DEC 1945

From:

To:

Rptd:

IMPORTANT

Cabinet Offices.

Commander-in-Chief, Hong Kong

S.A.C.S.E.A.

C.-in-C. India

C.-in-C. B. P. F.

X COS A

7221

17th December, 1945.

Following from Chiefs of Staff.

100-69/1107/10-

Further to our 6809. We note from your TOO 080510 to Commander-in-Chief, British Pacific Fleet that as a result of the decision to send you an IndianBrigade, you consider it necessary to retain a proportion of the naval landing parties now employed on police duties.

20

We do not agree that the naval landing parties should continue to be employed on police duties and you should release these as soon as practicable after the arrival of the Indian Brigade. While we appreciate your point about the use of British rather than Indian troops, it has not been possible because of circumstances elsewhere to send 2 British Brigade and you should therefore make the best use of the Indian Brigade.

3.

Meanwhile we have asked the Colonial Office to do everything possible to accelerate the despatch of European instructors and recruits for the Hong Kong Police, but you should bear in mind the possibilities of meeting your immed- iate civil police needs by considering the claims for re- employment of the British Members of the former Shanghai Municipal Council Police.

(Circulation)

Defence Office S. of S. India Foreign Office S. of S. Dominions First Sea Lord S. of S. Colonies

C. 6. Tels.

A. M. C.S.

TOO 171945Z

Minister of War Transport Gen. Sir A. G. O. Mosley Mayne.

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