!
CONFIDENTIAL
2.
MARCH 27 THAT HE WOULD MAKE A PUBLIC
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE GOVERNMENTS
DECISION AT THE SAME TIME AS HE DESPATCHED THE LETTER TO THE TUNN
COMPANY.
4. YOU WILL BE AWARE THAT I AM MOST ANXIOUS TO AVOID GETTING
BACK TO THE POSITION WHERE THE TUNNEL NEGOTIATIONS ARE A MATTER
OF PUBLIC AND PRESS DISCUSSION AND TAKEN AS A TOKEN OF BRITAIN'S
POLITICAL FAITH IN THE POLITICAL FUTURE OF THE COLONY. 1
DISCUSSED MY FEARS FRANKLY
WITH COWPERTHWAITE ON MARCH 27 AFTER ASKING TO SEE HIM. I DO NOT THINK HE IS CONVINCED OF THE POLITICAL RISKS INVOLVE,
BUT AT LEAST HE AGREED TO DELAY PUBLICATION FOR A LITTLE TIME, AND IN THE MEANTIME TELEGRAPH THE TEXT OF HIS PROPOSED
PRESS RELEASE TO YOU.
5. 1
I SHOULD BE GRATEFUL IF YOU WOULD GIVE HIS DRAFT YOUR IMMEDIATE
CONSIDERATION.
(F C O PLS PASS TO REPETEES)
SIR D. TRENCH
/COPIES SENT TO B/TRADE AND E.C.G.D._/
FILES
H.K.D.
F.P. & A.D.
CONFIDENTIAL
ADVANCE COPIES SENT.