SECRET
798
CYPHER/CAT A
RITY HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NO 1645
SECRET
TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
2 SEPTEMBER 1968
ADDRESSED CO TELNO 1045 OF 2ND SEPTEMBER RFI PEKING.
HW
REC. ARCHI 3 SEF ves
HWA3/2
747
YOUR TELEGRAM 1414 ↑ GREY.
I AM READY TO LET CATER MAKE A PROPOSITION BUT WHEN HE FIRST SPEAKS
ON THE SUBJECT HE WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO SPEAK OF HSUEH FIRST AND OF
LO ONLY LATER IN THE DISCUSSION, AND IN THE CONTEXT THAT A FAIRLY
FIRM INDICATION OF CHINESE INTENTIONS OVER GREY WOULD PROBABLY BE
REQUIRED BY ME BEFORE LO'S RELEASE ALSO WAS AGREED. WHILE ! AGREE
WE MUST BE PREPARED TO THROW IN LO, WE MUST TRY TO DO SO TO THE
BEST TACTICAL ADVANTAGE.
2. LATER IN THE NEGOTIATIONS, ON THE ASSUMPTION WE AGREE TO
RELEASE BOTH HSVEH AND LO FOR GREY, WE OUGHT TO TRY TO ARRANGE
MATTERS SO THAT, WHILST HSUEH MIGHT BE RELEASED BEFORE GREY, LO
WOULD NOT BE RELEASED UNTIL AFTER GREY HAD LEFT CHINA. IT WOULD BE
SUFFICIENT IF THIS WAS MERELY UNDERSTOOD ON BOTH SIDES, PATHER
THAN MADE A POSITIVE CONDITION.
3. I WILL NOW ASK CATER TO ARRANGE A MEETING OSTENSIBLY ON
SOME OTHER SUBJECT, AND INTRODUCE THIS ONE DURING THE COURSE OF
THE MEETING. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT, FOR THE MOMENT, HE PUTS IT
FORWARD AS HIS OWN IDEA, WHICH WOULD BE LESS PLAUSIBLE IF HE MADE
THIS THE MAIN REASON FOR MEETING.
FO PLEASE PASS PRIORITY PEKING.
SIR D. TRENCH
LAST
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