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3. IN VIEW OF THIS DEVELOPMENT I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE PREFERABLE NOT TO PURSUE THE QUESTION OF REVIEWING THE GUIDE LINES ABOUT U.S. NAVAL VISITS FOR THE TIME BEING. AS YOU SAY IT IS IMPORTANT
TO AVOID THE APPEARANCE OF PREJUDGING ANY DECISION ON THIS ISSUE, AND WE CAN REVERT TO IT WHEN THE POSITION AS REGARDS SIR D. HOPSON'S VISA IS CLEARER. IN SO FAR AS ANGLO-AMERICAN RELATIONS ARE AFFECTED BY THE OUTCOME WE CAN I THINK RELY ON THE AMERICANS TO SYMPATHISE WITH AND IN PARTICULAR TO ACCEPT ANY CHANGES AND AMENDMENTS WHICH THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS OR OF SECURITY OF HONG KONG APPEAR TO NECESSITATE. ON THE OTHER HAND WE ARE VERY DEPENDENT IN A VARIETY OF IMPORTANT WAYS ON THE GOODWILL OF THE U.S. NAVY, FOR. EXAMPLE, FOR FACILITIES IN THE CARIBBEAN, THE BAHAMAS AND ON THE WEST/ABOUT ROUTE TO THE FAR EAST AND I SHOULD NOT LIKE OUR REQUEST FOR THE POSTPONEMENT OF THE VISIT OF THE BONHOMME RICHARD TO BE FOLLOWED UP AT ONCE BY SUGGESTIONS FOR CHANGES IN THE GUIDE LINES WHICH COULD STILL FURTHER COMPLICATE THEIR PLANS.
F.O. PASS HONG KONG, PEKING AND POLAD SINGAPORE.
SIR P. DEAN
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