Cypher/Cat.A
PRIORITY PEKING то
Telno. 312
CONFIDENTIAL
FOREIGN OFFICE
21 March 1967
63
CONFIDENTIAL
Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 312 of 21 March. Repeated for information to Hong Kong, Washington and POLAD Singapore.
My immediately preceding telegram [Visits of American Warships to Hong Kong]
After the Vice-Director had read the Note out to me, I commented on usual lines. I pointed out that we had already informed the Chinese Government, on several previous occasions, that the visits of American warships to Hong Kong in no way implied that they were using it as a base for war preparations. I read to him the text of our Note No.96 of 11 October, 1965, and stated that this still represented our position.
2.
After a further brief but fruitless exchange, we brought the conversation to an end. I said I would communicate the text to you.
In reply to a question he said they were giving it to
the Press.
3.
The whole performance was in a very low key and had every appearance of a routine aperation being done for the record. The Note itself is one of the weakest that we have had on this subject. It contains no frills, concentrating entirely on the visits of American warships. I recommend a reply on the lines of our Note No. 8 of 16 February, 1966, after a decent interval.
Foreign Office pass Washington 180,
Mr. Hopson
Sent 03352/21 March 1967
Recd. 10322/21 March 1967
[Repeated as requested]
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CONFIDENTIAL
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