SECRET
-2-
3. 1 HAVE DISCUSSED INFORMALLY WITH THE U.S. DEPUTY CONSUL-
*
GENERAL. HE TOO FEELS THAT THE VISIT MAY BE FOLLOWED BY A CONSIDERABLE PROPAGANDA EXERCISE AND POSSIBLY A NOTE OF PROTEST, BUT HE DOUBTS WHETHER THE ISSUE IS OF SUFFICIENT INTRINSIC IMPORTANCE TO THE CHINESE FOR THEM TO GO FURTHER THATN THAT. HE AGREES THAT IF THE CAMPAIGN WERE SUFFICENTLY VIRULENT IT MIGHT BECOME NECESSARY TO TEMPORARILY REDUCE VISITS AT LEAST BY LARGE SHIPS AND NUCLEAR VESSELS. HE WOULD PREFER THAT POSSIBILITY TO CANCELLATION AT THIS VERY LATE STAGE OF ENTERPRISE'S VISIT SINCE THE FACT THAT THIS HAD BEEN DONE WOULD INEVITABLY LEAK AND THE COMMUNISTS WOULD BE PRESENTED WITH A MAJOR VICTORY WHICH COULD HAVE PERMANENT REPERCUSSIONS ON ALL U.S. NAVAL VISITS IN FUTURE. I AGREE WITH
HIM.
Sist Trendas
FILES F.E.DEPT.
HONG KONG DEFT. MR. WILKINSON
ADVANCE COPIES SENT: