CU
JNTIAL
must know, Stans is to visit Hong Kong on 17 May for discussions. We are considering with the Board of Trade, in the light of the London discussions, what guidance to give to Hong Kong in handling Stans. I will have some more to say about this shortly.
5. I heard recently from your successor, Blackwell, whom I do not know, but you may. I answered, of course, the letter he wrote introducing himself but not at length, saying that I would prefer to wait for the visit he expects to make in May before discussing the future with him more fully. I may say that I admitted that in the past you had probably had good grounds for thinking that you were rather isolated and not always kept fully in the picture. But I went on to hope that this was no longer the case, at least to the same degree, I wonder whether over the next month you will have time to write and let me know quite frankly whether your situation has been at all improved by the institution of this system of newsletters. I shall not mind if you tell me that it has been of little advantage and that much more is needed: indeed I would prefer you to be outspoken. But in preparing for your successor's arrivel it would be useful to have your opinion on the present state of dealings between us.
(w. S. Carter)