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CARRIERS, THE YORKTOWN AND THE 'KEARSAGE', WHICH HAD EVIDENTLY
INCLUDED UNDER THE MISTAKEN IMPRESSION THAT THEY WERE STRIKE CARRIERS
3.1 TINK THE AMERICANS HAVE A GOOD CASE AND HOPE THAT YOU WILL BE
ABLE TO AUTHORISE US TO MODIFY THE POINT AT 3(B) BY DELETING 'HELI-
COPTER OR TROOP CARRIER'.
4. WHITING, WHO LED THE AMERICAN SIDE IN THESE DISCUSSIONS, LEAVES
HONG KONG ON 1ST SEPTEMBER AND WILL BE AVAILABLE IN WASHINGTON FOR
DISCUSSIONS WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT FROM 3RD TO 6TH SEPTEMBER.
I THINK HE WILL BE A USEFUL EMISSARY FROM OUR POINT OF VIEW. IT
WOULD BE HELPFUL, THEREFORE, IF A DECISION COULD BE TAKEN ON MY
PRECEDING PARAGRAPH BY 3RD SEPTEMBER.
CO PLEASE PASS PRIORITY TO PEKING.
SIR D. TRENCH
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED/
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