CONFIDENTIAL
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CYPHER/CAT A.
IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON
TELEGRAM NO 2102
CONFIDENTIAL.
ADDSD TO F O TELNO 2102 OF 10 YOUR TELEGRAM NO 1262 TO HONG U.S. NAVAL VISITS.
1223
TO FOREIGN OFFICE
10 JULY 1968.
JULY REPTD FOR INFMN PEKING HONG KONG. KONG.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS THIS AFTERNOON ASKED WHETHER IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE TO SUBSTITUTE THE BONHOMME RICHARD FOR THE BOSTON DURING THE PERIOD 25 TO 30 JULY OR AS CLOSE TO THAT AS POSSIBLE. THE PROPOSED CALL OF THE BOSTON WOULD THEN BE REGARDED AS CANCELLED. THE REASONS THEY GIVE FOR THIS ARE THAT, APART FROM THE DIFFICULTY OF RESCHEDULING CALLS, FAILURE OF THE BONHOMME RICHARD TO CALL AT HONG KONG WILL GIVE RISE TO ''HARDSHIP FOR THE CREW''
2. IT SEEMS TO US THAT THE PROPER WAY OF HANDLING THAT REQUEST IS THROUGH THE LIAISON COMMITTEE IN HONG KONG AND WE SO INFORMED THE STATE DEPARTMENT. HOWEVER WE UNDERTOOK TO CONVEY THE TERMS OF THEIR NEW PROPOSAL TO YOU, SAYING THAT THEY SHOULD SIMULTANEOUSLY PUT IT TO THE LIAISON COMMITTEE.
F.O. PASS PEKING, HONG KONG.
SIR P DEAN.
REPEATED AS REQUESTED/
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RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No.63
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CONFIDENTIAL