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May I see the desfalth, H?
Mr Crowso The Goodfellow
TO PRIORITY GOVERNOR HONG KONG TELNO 206 OF 26 FEBRUARY,
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM WILFORD,
ANNUAL DESPATCH.
then PLA
As
1, YOUR DESPATCH HAS BEEN READ AND HIGHLY COMMENDED BY THE
•
SECRETARY OF STATE AND OTHER MINISTERS, WE ARE PREPARING A DESPATCH
IN REPLY.
2. ON THE QUESTION OF PRINTING, WHICH I DISCUSSED WITH YOU IN HONG KONG, WE AGREE THAT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE DESPATCH SHOULD BE WIDELY READ AND STUDIED. WE THEREFORE PROPOSE TO RECLASSIFY IT SECRET - ECLIPSE AND SEND IT FOR PRINTING, BUT ALTHOUGH WE AGREE THAT WE NEED NOT BE TOO CAUTIOUS ABOUT DISCUSSING THE CHINESE ATTITUDE, THE SECRETARY OF STATE STILL CONSIDERS THAT THE DISCUSSION OF OUR OWN INTENTIONS MUST BE GIVEN A MOST LIMITED DISTRIBUTION. YOUR PARAGRAPH 20 STILL MAKES GOOD SENSE WITHOUT THE REFERENCE TO OUR INTENTIONS. I THEREFORE PROPOSE, SUBJECT TO YOUR AGREEMENT, TO AMEND THAT PARAGRAPH IN THE VERSION FOR PRINTING ON THE LINES OF MIFT. THIS IS NOT IDEAL, BUT I PUT IT FORWARD BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE WHICH I THINK WE BOTH ATTACH TO YOUR DESPATCH BEING SEEN BY MINISTERS AND SENTOR OFFICIALS.
DOUGLAS-HIOME
FILES: HEAD HKIOD
MK, WILFORD SIR D. WATSON SIR E. NORRIS
!
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