NOT MEET ALL THE DESIDERATA EXACTLY A FEW COULD BE STRETCHED. THE GROUP MUST GUESS FOR ITSELF WHICH THESE MIGHT BE HE HAD NOT HELPED OTHERS TO MAKE THEIR GUESSES. BUT INFORMALLY (**AND I WILL DENY IT IF QUOTED'') HE SUGGESTED THAT IT MIGHT NOT MATTER IF IT WENT A BIT OVER THE TOP OF THE HK DOLLARS 5,360
MILLION AND INCLUDED LIMITED EXCALATION. IT MUST HOWEVER GIVE SOMETHING SUBSTANTIVE IN PRICE. THE PRESENT LETTER EVEN WITH MY COMPLEMENTARY EXPLANATIONS DID NOT GO FAR ENOUGH.
16. UNLESS THIS WAS SONDE HE DID NOT SEE HOW THE ANGLO ITALIAN COULD BE PRESENTED AS A COUNTER BID TO GO FOCWARD TO EXCO WITH
THE JAPANESE,
17.
AND HE DID NOT SEEN HOW HE COULD JUSTIFY STALLING ON THE JAPANESE TO WAIT FOR SOMETHING UNKNOWN IN APRIL. THE JAPANESE WOULD CERTAINLY WITHDRAW THEIR BID (HE HAS SEPARATELY TOLD WEEDON THAT JAPANESE HAVE IN FACT PUT A TIME BAR ON IT WHICH RUNS OUT 'CLOSE TO 2ND DECEMBER**). THE RESULT COULD ONLY BE AN INCREASE IN THE EVENTUAL PRICE. ''AT PRESENT WE HAVE A COMPLETE OFFER AT A GOOD PRICE IN OUR HANDS AND WE CANNOT LET IT GO FOR A PROMISE''.
18. WHOLE DISCUSSION 45 MINUTES WAS FRIENDLY AND FRANK, TONE WAS NOT AS SHARP AS SIR D GLAGUE EXPERIENCES IN HIS BRIEF
DISCUSSION WITH GOVERNOR ON 16 NOVEMBER WHICH I REPORTED TO YOU ON THE TELEPHONE, BUT IT REFLECTED SAME DISATISFACTION · EVEN IRRITATION AND INCREDULITY - OVER **COUNTER BID** AND FIRM
CONVICTION THAT AS IT STANDS IT COULD NOT BE PUT FORWARD TO EXCO.
19.
ON PUBLICITY WE AND BRITISH GROUP AND ITALIAN REPRESENTATIVE
HERE WILL TAKE SAME LINE AS IN YOUR TELEGRAM.
20
ASSUME YOU WILL INFORM BRITISH GROUP (CODD TELEPHONED ME YESTERDAY, SUNDAY, AND I TOLD HI A MESSAGE WAS ON THE WAY TO
YOU).
ASTON
WNNN
I HAVE INFORMED ITALIAN CONSUL GENERAL HERE IN BROAD TERMS.
GRPS 1320
1
SENT AT 0620Z/19 EJH