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have been persuaded by their officials to modify this to a
proposal for a "warning shot" on the question of a guarantee.
(Sir G Howes letter to the Secretary of State of 30 October).
There is no need to go too deeply into the arguments against this.
It is already to some extent overtaken by the fact that the
Anglo/Italian bid is now ready and will need all the help it can
get. We do however need to discuss the next steps with the DTI
at official level. We will also need to contact the Governor,
probably in a personal message from Mr Royle. The form of this
message will however depend partly on how much explaining we
have to do of the background to the Anglo/Italian bid; and this
will depend in turn on whether Mr Kindersley can agree with his
colleagues any changes to the bid itself.
7.
I therefore submit a draft reply to Sir G Howe, and a draft
follow-up letter which I would send to Mr Royce, the new DTI
Under-Secretary concerned. A draft telegram to the Governor will
be submitted when the form of the bid is decided.
6 November 1973
Cc:
Sir D Watson
Mr Finlayson
I have related
A C Stuart
Hong Kong and Indian Ocean Department
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