CONFIDE
-2-
A MONTH, AND REQUESTS FOR SPECIAL LETTERS ARE NORMALLY ALLOWED. THERE
IS NO LIMIT ON INCOMING LETTERS.
(B) BOOKS: IN ADDITION TO HAVING FREE ACCESS TO THE PRISON LIBRARY,
COMMUNIST PRISONERS HERE HAVE RECEIVED BOOKS SENT TO THEM BY FRIENDS
AND RELATIVES. BUT THIS IS A MATTER ON WHICH IT WOULD BE NECESSARY
TO TREAD CAREFULLY, FOR THE CHINESE WILL CERTAINLY SEEK TO MAKE AN
ISSUE OF OUR REFUSAL TO ALLOW MAO'S THOUGHTS TO BE GIVEN TO
PRISONERS.
5. IF ALL ELSE FAILS, WE MAY HAVE TO CONSIDER A FURTHER ROUND OF
'SPECIAL' VISITS HERE. BUT WE WOULD PREFER TO EXHAUST OTHER LINES
OF APPROACH FIRST.
COMMONWEALTH OFFICE PLEADE FASS IMMEDIATE TO PEKING 193.
SIR D. TRENCH
[REPEITION TO PEKING REFERRED FOR DEPARTMENTAL
DECISION].
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
F.E.D.
F.0.
0.0.
H.K.D.
C.0.
1. & G.D.
CONSULAR DEPT.
F.0.
F.E. & P.D.
S.A.D.
NEWS DEFT.
DEFENCE DEPT.
F.U.S.D.
I.K.D.
NEWS DEPT.
:
CONFIDENTIAL
ADVANCE COPIES SENT