11. Communist controlled organisations in Macao, supported by the provincial authorities in Kwantung Province and by the local and national press, made a number of demands with the usual Chinese threat that unless they were met in full the Chinese authorities would not be responsible for the consequences. principal demands were for compensation, punishment and/or dismissal of a number of Macao
for the
The
officials; for the surrender of seven K.M.T. agents
detained by the authorities in Macao and the suppression
纂
of all K.M.T. activities; and for a public declaration by the Macao authorities apologising for their "crimes" and accepting these terms.
12. By early January, negotiations between the Governor of Macao and delegates of the Kwantung authorities on the form of the public declaration had reached an advanced stage. At this point the Portuguese Government told the Governor that the terms of the declaration were unacceptable. In particular they could not accept the word "crimes" to describe the actions of the Security Forces. The Governor urging that the terms were the best likely to be obtained and that, if Macao was not to be lost, they should be accepted, asked for a plenipoten- tiary to be sent out with full powers to conclude a settlement. This, it would seem, the Portuguese
Government decided to do.
they decided to send three officials to conduct the negotiations. There was, not unexpectedly, a strong reaction from the Chinese and a demand that the Macao
Our authorities should settle the matter forthwith. latest information
A
We
is that a Portuguese delegation was crossing to China yesterday afternoon to present a revised draft of the Portuguese "apology" in terms approved by Lisbon. do not yet know the outcome of this meeting. preliminary report from an American source is that it resulted in deadlock, The Governor has, however, reported that the Chinese are continuing to study the Portuguese proposal and the Portuguese Consul General has said that the attitude of the Chinese authorities at the meeting was "not so stiff".
THIS IS A COPY
THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN RETAINED IN THE DEPARTMENT UNDER SECTION 3(4) OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT 1858
/13.