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the visit was finally agreed or on the basis of what arguments agreement was given. I think that Hoan in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, following Bac, had no doubt that the visit offered mutual advantage to both the Vietnamese and British Governments. The Vietnamese Parliamentarians concerned also secmed to agree on this point. Whether other Ministers who may have been consulted, eg certainly the Ministers of Justice, Interior and Information, and perhaps also the Prime Minister and President, were moved by this thought, or whether it was indicated to them that they should agree to the visit in order to please the British, is far from clear. Perhaps it does not really matter.
9. You will no doubt let me know as and when you have any requirements, or there may be any developments, affecting publicity for this visit. It seems to me unlikely that the Government would wish it to become public knowledge in Saigon. On the other hand there is a tremendous undercurrent of gossip in Saigon and a fair number of Parliamentarians and officials must know about the visit: it may well get to the ears of foreign correspondents here, who mostly employ Vietnamene assistants exactly to pick up stories of this sort.
forwarded /10.
b kk.
I enclose a spare copy of this letter in case you need
one for Hong Kong.
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