800.0146/226: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Acting Secretary of State
[Received November 10—9 a.m.]
2123. Your 1519, October 26. Stilwell tells us that in the conversations between Generalissimo and Mountbatten the question of civil administration of liberated areas was not specifically discussed but that Mountbatten desired to attach to the various allied units including Chinese units British civil officers of the former Burma Government now commissioned as officers in the British Army to serve as liaison officers but actually to be intelligence officers and to reestablish the civil government of Burma as soon as possible. While there was agreement to acceptance of liaison officers, no understanding was reached as to the activities of such officers and Stilwell says Mountbatten is not satisfied on this point. I also understand that the activities of these liaison officers with the Chinese units is being limited.
There was also discussion between Generalissimo and Mountbatten on the overlapping of their respective theatres of command as regards Thailand; this was arranged by agreement that either theatre commander might proceed into Thailand and the boundary of military jurisdiction as between them would be the line where their two forces might meet. No question apparently was raised regarding French Indochina.