GRS 280 IMMEDIATE
CYPHER CAT/A
LAST
REF
NSX1
REF.
SECRET
(34)
G
78)
3 NOV 1975
5
FM HONG KONG Ø10450Z
SECRET
TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELEGRAM NO 1899 OF 1 NOVEMBER.
FOLLOWING FOR SIR DUNCAN WATSON.
34-MY TELEGRAM NO 1059: DEATH SENTENCES REPLY TO UNOFFICIALS.
TEXT OF THE COLONIAL SECRETARY'S PROPOSED REPLY IS IN M IFT.
2. I SHOULD NOT HAVE EXPECTED THAT THE COURSE OF ACTION AGAINST
MURDERERS PROPOSED SHOULD CAUSE YOU ANY DIFFICULTY.
3. I FEEL OBLIGED TO BRING FORMALLY TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S
ATTENTION THE STRONG REPRESENTATIONS MADE BY UNOFFICIALS AND TO
ASK HIM IF, IN THE LIGHT OF THEM, HE WOULD FEEL ABLE TO CHANGE
HIS PREVIOUS POSITION.
*
4. THE RELEVANT PASSAGE IN THE COLONIAL SECRETARY'S REPLY
ASSUMES THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL BE PREPARED TO CONFIRM
THAT HE IS NOT.
5. I REALIZE THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE MAY HAVE SOME HESITATION
IN PERMITTING PUBLIC REFERENCES TO BE MADE TO HIS POSITION
THOUGH HE HAS PREVIOUSLY AUTHORISED ME TO INFORM EXECUTIVE
COUNCILLORS OF IT, AND IT IS GENERALLY DEDUCED FROM THE COURSE
OF EVENTS. BUT IT WILL ASSIST ME TO BE IN A POSITION TO DESCRIBE
IN SOME DETAIL THE REALITIES OF THE SITUATION IN THE MANNER
PROPOSED IN THE COLONIAL SECRETARY'S DRAFT SPEECH.
6. THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE PRESENTATION I CAN THINK OF WOULD BE TO
SUBSTITUTE IN PARA 10 OF MIFT ''! AM SATISFIED THAT THERE IS NO PROPSECT OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE CHANGING HIS POSITION'' WHICH WOULD AVOID THE PUBLIC APPEARANCE OF FORMAL QUESTION TO AND
ANSWER FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE ''. IF THIS IS FELT TO BE
PREFERABLE I WOULD OF COURSE ACCEPT IT.
SECRET
/ 7. I MIGHT