21/1
K \ Cotterill *sq
Export Credit Guarantee Department
P J Box No 272
$1dermanbury House
1.1ormanbury
London 027 201
11 J-nuary 1973
Attached is a copy of a translation or an article that recently (4 January) appeared in one of the Chinese newspapera allegedly suza.rising an article in the Japanese acon.mia Nows review. Ve have to nssume that the transletion from the Japanese was correct but we don't know how for it has been abridged or distorted in the process; nor do no know how good the Loonanie Nows Review is as a source, But if the report is reasonably credible it is an interestin insight into the Japanese assessment of their chances and offers some colateral to the stories we have heard from time to time (directly and indirectly) about Jardines having had difficulty in permeding the Japanese to make a serious effort becsuse they felt the handioegging was against then, Perhaps also it portly explains why the Japanese are taking so long to formulete a really competitive financial bid.
I am sending a copy of this to Tokyo for eny comments they can offer on the reliability of the concalo News "eview and on the report itself.
*nolozure
o with enclosure to
TV Aston
Senior British Trade Commissioner
PG Awakefield baq – Tokyo & Cetson 84 OPC DTI Miss C Melch
eloh - CRE (2) TI
A
PCO
Stuart sag - KIOD Fco ✓ ( Tinkyson 589
- CO
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