CONFIDENTIAL
629
CYPHER/CAT -A-
PRIORITY PARIS
TELEGRAM NO. 685
CONFIDENTIAL.
TO FOREIGN OFFICE
4 JULY 1968
ADDRESSED TO FOREIGN OFFICE TELEGRAM NO. 685 OF 4 JULY REPEATED FOR
INFORMATION TO PEKING HONG KONG AND WASHINGTON.
16060
YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 358 TO BERNE - CHINESE EXIT VISAS.
IT WILL BE MORE DIFFICULT FOR THE FRENCH TO DECIDE TO HELP
US THIS TIME THAN IT WAS WHEN OUR EMBASSY WAS ATTACKED LAST AUGUST.
M. COUVE THEN AUTHORISED THE FRENCH EMBASSY IN PEKING TO BE HELPFUL
WITHOUT CONSULTING GENERAL DE GAULLE. I AM MORE DOUBTFUL WHETHER M. DEBRE, IF HE REMAINS AT THE QUAI D'ORSAY WILL BE READY TO ACCEPT THIS RESPONSIBILITY, BOTH BECAUSE HE IS NEW TO HIS JOB AND BECAUSE THE FRENCH ARE NOW IN THE PROCESS OF REDUCING THEIR OWN STAFF IN PEKING DISCREETLY AND GRADUALLY WITHOUT INFORMING THE CHINESE THAT THIS IS THEIR POLICY. WHILE THIS IS GOING ON, THEY MAY WELL BE RELUCTANT TO TALK TO THE CHINESE ABOUT CUR PROBLEMS. IF M. DESBRE
DECIDES TO CONSULT GENERAL DE GAULLE, THE RESULTS MUST BE DOUBTFUL, IT WAS BECAUSE THEY WERE UNSURE OF HIS ATTITUDE THAT THE QUAI D'ORSAY
AVOIDED REFERENCE TO HIM BEFORE HELPING US LAST SUMMER.
2. DESPITE THESE PROBLEMS, HOWEVER, I THINK IT IS WORTH WHILE CONSULTING THE FRENCH. THE BEST PERSON TO APPROACH IN THE FIRST
INSTANCE WOULD BE MANAC'H, THE DIRECTOR FOR FAR EASTERN AFFAIRS, WHO WAS MOST COOPERATIVE LAST AUGUST AND WHO WILL PERSONALLY WISH TO
HELP ONCE MORE. MANAC'H MAY BE GOING ON LEAVE VERY SHORTLY AND I SHOULD WELCOME YOUR AUTHORITY TO SPEAK TO HIM IN GENERAL TERMS AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THAT HE MAY CONSIDER HOW BEST TO RESPOND IF
AND WHEN WE APPROACH THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT FORMALLY. I SHOULD LIKE
TO BE ABLE TO ASSURE MANAC'H THAT THERE IS NO QUESTION OF OUR
GIVING PUBLICITY TO ANY HELP THE FRENCH MAY PROVIDE.
FO PASS TO PEKING HONG KONG AND WASHINGTON.
SIR P. REILLY
[REPEATED AS REQUESTED]
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CONFIDENTIAL