W{B}L 51-7433
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry HONG KONG
No.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
XIOJI X230X XSCMXX
Confidential.
XOTISKAVO
PRIVACY MARKING
DRAFT LETTER
To:
W. Hughes, Esq., CB.,
Board of Trade.
In Confidence
Type 1 +
From
:
Sir Arthur Snelling
Telephone No. & Ext.
Department
I have just heard from Whitehead and
Carter the outcome of their meeting with you late last night at which it was decided to suggest to Hong Kong an alternative negotiating position for the forthcoming talks with Sweden. I attach a copy of the telegram which was sent last night to the Governor.
You will have seen the telegram (No.387) which we sent to the Governor and his reply (No.475). The reaction is much as we
expected.
Jordan will be arriving here tomorrow. I think it is essential that we get round a table with him as soon as possible on Friday. We must give Hong Kong a chance to put the arguments against our proposals, however late in the day this might be. And I think that we must seriously consider whether this, further round of Swedish talks is really of such significance to the broader policy issues that we cannot give Hong Kong more latitude and some prospect of reaching agreement with the Swedes. We are agreed that the broader issues must be faced but there is not time for this to be done
now.
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