CONFIDENTIAL
CYPHER/CAT A
PRIORITY
FOREIGN OFFICE
ΤΟ
TELNO 536
PEKING
22 MAY 1968 (FED)
173
CONFIDENTIAL
ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELNO 536 OF 22 MAY REPEATED FOR INFORMATION
TO HONG KONG AND WASHINGTON.
169) YOUR TELNO 443, AND HONG KONG TELNO 630: USS ENTERPRISE.
THE
WE HAVE CONSIDERED VERY CAREFULLY THE POSSIBILITY OF
CANCELLING THE VISIT. WE AGREE THAT WE MUST EXPECT A FORMAL PROTEST FROM THE CHINESE: AND THAT THE OTHER DISAGREEABLE CONSEQUENCES WHICH YOU MENTION COULD RESULT FROM THE VISIT. ON BALANCE, HOWEVER, WE DOUBT IF THEY WILL. IT SEEMS TO US THAT THE PRESS CAMPAIGN IS MORE A MANIFESTATION OF CHINESE DISAPPROVAL OF THE VIETNAM TALKS IN PARIS THAN A MOVE DIRECTLY RELATED TO SINO-BRITISH BILATERAL RELATIONS. CHINESE HAVE RECENTLY SHOWN SOME DISPOSITION TO SEPARATE THE AFFAIRS OF YOUR MISSION FROM HONG KONG. WE HAVE GIVEN THEM NO REASON TO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE PREPARED IN ANY WAY TO ABDICATE OUR AUTHORITY IN THE COLONY AS A PRICE FOR IMPROVED RELATIONS. IF THEY WISHED TO FIND A PRETEXT FOR REVERTING FOR EXAMPLE, TO THE PREVIOUS POLICY OF STANDSTILL ON STAFF MOVEMENTS, THERE ARE OTHER ISSUES IN HONG KONG (NOTABLY PRISONERS AND THE GIFT OF RICE) WHICH WOULD APPEAR MORE
APPROPRIATE.
2.
APART FROM ADVERSE AMERICAN REACTIONS, THERE ARE OTHER MORE COMPELLING REASONS AGAINST CANCELLATION:
(A)
YOU AND HONG KONG AUTHORITIES ARE AGREED THAT THE CHINESE HAVE GOT WIND OF THE ACTUAL VISIT BY THE QUOTE ENTERPRISE UNQUOTE AND THAT THE N.C.N.A. PROTEST WAS AIMED DELIBERATELY AT IT. TO CANCEL IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD, AS HONG KONG HAVE POINTED OUT, ENCOURAGE CHINESE PRESSURE IN THE FUTURE AGAINST U.S. NAVAL VISITS AND WOULD BE A DANGEROUS STEP IN THE DIRECTION OF ALLOWING THE CHINESE TO DICTATE OUR POLICIES IN THE COLONY.
/(B)
CONFIDENTIAL
LAST REF.
165
I F.
17