HER/CAT -A-
IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 716
CONFIDENTIAL
TOP COPY
198
TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
3 JUNE 1968
CONFIDENTIAL.
ADDRESSED COMMONWEALTH OFFICE AS MY TELEGRAM NO. 716 DATED 3RD JUNE
REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING, WASHINGTON, AND PA SINGAPORE.
(बिए
(14)
1195.
YOUR TELEGRAM 1041: U.S. NAVAL VISITS.
THE AMERICANS HAVE NOW CANCELLED (EPEAT CANCELLED) THEIR REQUEST
FOR CLEARANCE FOR A VISIT BY U.S.S. 'BOSTON'. THEY HAVE INFORMED
US THAT IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE TO RE-ARRANGE HER PROGRAMME TO
INCLUDE A VISIT BEGINNING ON EITHER 7TH JUNE OR 14TH JUNE.
2. YOUR TELEGRAM 1032, PARAGRAPH 2. WE HAVE TOLD THE AMERICANS THAT
A VISIT BY 'QUEENFISH' FROM 16TH 22ND JUNE WOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE,
BUT THAT WE SHOULD BE PREPARED TO CONSIDER A VISIT AFTER JULY.
3. A POINT THAT SHOULD BE BORNE IN MIND IS THAT REQUESTS FOR
POSTPONEMENT OF VISITS AT SHORT NOTICE DO NOT CAUSE MERELY 'ADIN-
ISTRATIVE INCONVENIENCE'. SUCH REQUESTS OFTEN CAUSE GENUINE OPER-
ATIONAL DIFFICULTIES BECAUSE THEY TAKE THE SHIP OUT OF THE LINE
FOR A LONGER PERIOD THAN ORIGINALLY PLANNED: THEY MAY WELL MEAN, AS
WITH 'BOSTON, THAT THE SHIPS CONCERNED DO NOT COME HERE AT ALL.
4. WE SHALL TELEGRAPH CONSIDERED COMMENTS ON PEKING TELEGRAM 511 IN
THE COURSE OF THE NEXT FEW DAYS.
CO PLEASE PASS PRIORITY PEKING 271 AND WASHINGTON 75.
SIR D. TRENCH
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
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