CYPHER/CAT A
FRIORITY HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 739
SECRET
SECRET
th
TOP COPY
TO COMMONWEALTH CFFICE
10 JUNE 1968
HW
203
HWAY/1
ADDRESSED CO TELNO 739 OF 10 JUNE, RFI-POLAD SINGAPORE AND WASHINGTON.
1979
(199A)
PEKING TELEGRAMS NOS 511 AND 527: U.S. NAVAL VISITS.
I AGREE THAT IN THE PRESENT STATE OF SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS WE
MUST BE CAREFUL TO KEEP THE PROGRAMME OF AMERICAN VISITS UNDER
STRICT CONTROL AND REVIEW.
2. IN FAC THERE HAS BEEN NOT AN INCREASE BUT A DECREASE IN THE
LEVEL OF VISITS FOR THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF 1968 AS COMPARED
WITH THE SAME PERIOD IN THE TWO PIEVIOUS YEARS. THE FIGURES ARE
161 IN 1966, 156 IN 1967 AND 149 IN 1968. COMPARABLE FIGURES
FOR CARRIERS ARE THREE, FIVE AND FOUR RESPECTIVELY. ON THE OTHER
HAND, IT IS TRUE THAT SO FAR IN 1968 THERE HAVE BEEN FOUR NUCLEA
SHIP VISITS AS AGAINST TWO IN THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF EACH OF THE
TWO PREVIOUS YEARS: AND CLARGELY BECAUSE MANY VISITS WERE HELD
UP IN FEBRUARY AS A RESULT OF THE PUEBLO INCIDENT ETC.) THERE WAS
A FAIFLY HIGH TOTAL OF VISITS IN APRIL AND RAY CHICHEF TPZN IN
1967 BUT PRECISELY THE SAME FIGURE AS IN 1966). THROUGHOUT THE
WHOLF OF 1967 THERE WERE 376 VISITING WARSHIPS INCLUDING FOUL
NUCLEAR POWERED. ALL THESE FIGURES ARE NO SECLET AND ARE NO DOUBT
WELL KNOWN TO THE CHINESE WHO HAVE MADE NO ATTEMPT TO ARCUE THAT
THE OVERALL LEVEL OF VISITS HAS INCREASED.
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