CYPHER/CAT A
SECRET
FLASH COMMONWEALTH OFFICE ΤΟ HONG KONG
TELNO 2235
SECRET.
2 NOVEMBER 1967
ADDRESSED TO HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO 2235
!
(D.T.D.)
(HOW) 4/1
DATE 2/11 REPEATED
FOR INFORMATION TO POLAD SINGAPORE PEKING AND WASHINGTON.
FROM GAL SWORTHY
147
HONG KONG BORDER.
139
9 1043
MINISTERS HAVE CONSIDERED YOUR TELEGRAMS NOS. 1614 AND 1617. THEY ARE IN FULL AGREEMENT WITH THE ACTION REPORTED IN PARAGRAPH
1 OF YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 1617 WHICH IS JUST THE KIND OF THING WE HAD IN MIND IN PARAGRAPH 2 OF OUR TELEGRAM NO.2231. MINISTERS CONSIDER IT WOULD BE MOST UNWISE TO GIVE IN TOO QUICKLY AND TOO EASILY ON THIS POINT. THEY WILL WISH TO CONSIDER WITH YOU WHAT OUR REACTIONS SHOULD BE TO THE CHINESE REPLY TO YOUR LATEST MESSAGE. IF THE CHINESE REPLY IS (AS YOU EXPECT) A REFUSAL, ONE OF THE POSSIBILITIES THAT MIGHT BE CONSIDERED IS WHETHER THE NEXT STEP SHOULD BE TO SEND LOWER LEVEL NEGOTIATORS TO MEETING ON CHINESE SIDE FOR SOLE PURPOSE OF ARGUING FURTHER ABOUT VENUE FOR NEXT SUBSTANTIVE MEETING. WHAT WOULD YOU THINK OF THIS?
2. MINISTERS ACCEPT ALL PROPOSALS IN PARAGRAPHS 6 AND 7 OF YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 1614, SAVE THAT DEALING WITH THE DEMAND FOR COMPENSATION TO PEASANTS FOR LOSSES SUSTAINED AS A RESULT OF CLOSING THE BORDER. THEY CONSIDER IT MOST UNDESIRABLE TO ACCEDE TO THIS DEMAND. THEREFORE THEY AGREE WITH THE PROPOSAL IN PARAGRAPH 3 OF YOUR TELEGRAM NO 1617 AS A MEANS OF BLOCKING IT. BUT JUST
IN CASE THIS OBJECTIVE WAS NOT ACHIEVED AND THE QUESTION OF COMPENSATION HAD TO BE FURTHER CONSIDERED IT IS SUGGESTED THAT WE MAKE AN ADDITIONAL STIPULATION THAT EX GRATIA COMPENSATION WOULD ONLY BE CONSIDERED FOR PEOPLE WHO COULD BE SHOWN NOT TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN THE ABDUCTION OF KNIGHT OR ANY OTHER ACTS OF VIOLENCE ON THE BORDER.
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