SECRET
HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO.928 TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
-3-
2. AS REGARDS TENSION ON THE BORDER, CONCESSIONS BY US IN HONG
KONG ARE NOT REALLY RELEVANT. THE LOCAL VILLAGERS ARE RABID
MILITANTS AND THE KEY FACTOR HERE IS THE CONTROL EXERCISED OVER
THEM BY THE BORDER AUTHORITIES.
6. I THINK WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL OF THE VIEW THAT WE SHOULD HELP THE
CHINESE SAVE FACE, UNTIL THE ROTIVES BEHIND THE HINTS WE HAVE
RECEIVED ARE CLEAKER. FOR THE PRESENT I THINK WE SHOULD LEAVE IT TO
THEM TO SAVE WHAT FACE THEY CAN FROM SUCH CONCESSIONS AS WE ARE
PREPARED TO MAKE.
7. I AGREE OF COURSE THAT ON OCCASIONS WE HAVE GAINED SOMETHING
CONCRETE FROM PARTICULAR CONCESSIONS, AT A PRICE. ON THE OTHER HAND,
THERE HAVE BEEN VERY MANY MORE OCCASIONS DURING THE LAST YEAR WHEN
WE HAVE, BY ADOPTING REASONABLE BUT FIRA ATTITUDES, AND MAKING NO
UNACCEPTABLE CONCESSIONS, INDUCED THE COMMUNISTS TO BACK-TRACK.
3. FINALLY, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN KIND BETWEEN MINOR
CONCESSIONS MADE WITH SPECIFIC AND LIMITED TACTICAL AIMS, WHICH WE
CONSTANTLY SEARCH FOR CAND HAVE MADE) AND WIDER CONCESSIONS MADE IN
THE GENERAL HOPE OF IMPROVED RELATIONS, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE
VIME FOR LATTER HAS YET COME. FOR THE PRESENT, WE SHOULD LEAVE IT
TO THE CHINESE TO COME TO US IN REASONABLY SPECIFIC TERMS AND PROPOSE
WHATEVER IT IS THEY WANT. WHEN WE KNOW THIS, WE MIGHT FIND OURSELVES
ABLE TO MEET THEN PARTIALLY AT LEAST. THIS IS INEVITABLY A DELICATE ·
BUSINESS, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT ALSO TO PLAY THINGS THE CHINESE WAY
AND NOT ALTOGETHER IN OURS.
CO PLEASE PASS PRIORITY PEKING.
SIR D. TRENCH
[REPETITION TO PEKING REFERRED FOR
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENTAL DECISION]
F.O. F.E.D.
C.O. HONG KONG DEPT.
F.O. NEWS DEPT.
CONSULAR DEPT.
I.P.D.
I.R.D.
DEFENCE DEPT.
C.O. NEWS DEPT.
DEFENCE DEPT. DIS MOD
SECRET