GRS 310
MEDIATE
CYPHER CAT A
FM JAKARTA · 150130Z
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HKK 5/1
TO IMMEDIATE F.C.0. TELNO. 756 OF 15 OCTOBER 73
PERSONAL FOR SIR DUNCAN WATSON FROM HOLLAND.
HONG KONG STERLING ARRANGEMENTS
1.
HAD SOME DISCUSSION WITH GOVERNOR AND HADDON-CAVE,
FORMER SHOWED ME THE PERSONAL TELEGRAM HE HAD SENT TO YOU. EMPHASISING THAT I WAS OUT OF TOUCH WITH DISCUSSIONS IN LONDON, 1 SAID THAT IT SEEMED TO ME THAT PRESENTATION AT BOTH ENDS COULD BE THE NUB OF THE MATTER, RECOGNISING THAT THEY HAVE LOCAL PROBLEMS, I STRESSED THAT WE HAVE DIFFICULTIES IN THE MORE GENERAL CONTEXT.
2. I SUGGESTED TO THE GOVERNOR, AND LATER TO HADDON-CAVE,
THAT IT MIGHT BE HELPFUL IF THEY CONSIDERED HOW THEY MIGHT
HANDLE LOCAL PRESENTATION OF BOTH THE FORMAL PROPOSITION WHICH THEY HAVE PUT TO LONDON, AND THE ALTERNATIVE PROPOSITION WHICH THEY HAVE MENTIONED TO YOU PERSONALLY. I SAID THAT I THOUGHT THAT THE PRESENTATIONAL APPROACH DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPHS 5 AND 6 80 OF HONG KONG TELEGRAM 1133 OF 5 OCTOBER WAS SOMEWHAT COARSE AND
PERHAPS MORE UNHELPFUL TO US THAN IT NEED BE. HADDON-CAVE
(80 F
WAS INITIALLY SOMEWHAT RELUCTANT ON THE GROUNDS THAT THE BALL
WAS IN LONDON'S COURT, AND HE DID NOT SEE MUCH POINT IN THINKING
FURTHER ABOUT PRESENTATION UNTIL THERE WAS A RESPONSE FROM LONDON. HE IS MOREOVER QUITE CONFIDENT OF HIS OWN ABILITY TO HANDLE
THE PRESENTATION IN A WAY THAT WOULD NOT IN HIS VIEW CREATE UNDUE DIFFICULTIES IN LONDON. I NEVERTHELESS SUGGESTED THAT
IT
MIGHT BE USEFUL FOR THE FCO TO HAVE A CLEARER IDEA OF HOW
THEY THOUGHT LOCAL PRESENTATION COULD BE HANDLED, AND THAT
THEIR THOUGHTS MIGHT APPROPIRATELY BE PUT PERSONALLY TO YOU.
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