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2.

PRICE AND THAT WE OUGHT TO GIVE THEM A REASONABLE INTERVAL IN WHICH TO REACT TO THE RELEASE OF HзEUH. I HOPE, THEREFORE,

THAT IN CUR PUBLIC STATEMENTS WE CAN INITIALLY CONFINE CURSELVES TO SAYING SIMPLY THAT WE TRUST THAT THE RELEASE OF HSELM HAS FACILITATED THE RELEASE OF CREY. I PERSONALLY THINK THAT THERE IS STILL A FAIR CHANCE THAT THE CHINESE WILL QUIETLY LET CUT GREY WITHIN THE NEXT (? GRP OMITTED) WEEKS.

י

?. HOWEVER, IF AT THE END OF ABOUT THREE WEEKS THERE HAS BEEN NO MOVE FROM THE CHINESE SIDE, INTEREST IN THE UK IS LIKELY TO PE SUCH THAT, WHATEVER THE TACTICAL MERITS OF SUCH A MOVE, FORMAL REPRESENTATIONS WOULD HAVE TO BE MADE TO THE CHINESE IN PEKING AND POSSIBLY ALSO IN LONDON, WE MIGHT IN THIS WAY COTAIN SOME CLEARER INDICATION OF CHINESE INTENTIONS, THOUGH EVEN THEN IT MIGHT BE NO MORE THAN A STATEMENT THAT UNLESS WE STOPPED OUR SUPPRESSION CF COMMUNIST NEWSWORKERS IN HONG KONG THERE WAS NO POSSIBILITY OF SETTLING THE GREY CASE. (PEANWHILE, THE COVERT CONTACTS IN HONG KONG MIGHT HAVE ROUGHT SOME CLARIFICATION).

4. AT THIS STAGE WE WOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY OF REVIEWING THE CASE WITH THE GOVERNOR BEFORE HIS RETURN TO HONG KONG ON

14 DECEMBER, SEE K LET.

ADVANCE COPY TO MR. MORETON BY 10.00 A.M. BST 18 NOVEMBER.

R. MACKE ZIE

/REPEATED TO PEKING AND HONG KONG

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