HOFO 005/17
00 F C O
No 52
19 MAY 1975
OO TOK YO
DESKBY (TOKYO 170506Z)
GRS 200
REF.
NEXI
(၄၄)
REF.
CYPHER CAT/A
102
ADVANCE
MR MALE HD/FIED HD/HKIOP RC.
'A/5
FM HONG KONG 170326Z
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 1705@@Z (TOKYO)
[files]
PA
196
TO IMMEDIATE F C O TELEGRAM NUMBER 484 OF 17 MAY AND TO TOKYO.
YOUR TELEGRAM NO 479 TO TOKYO: H M S CHICHESTER.
FOR MALE FROM GOVERNOR.
I HAVE MUCH SYMPATHY WITH H M AMBASSADOR'S DISAPPOINTMENT. HOWEVER, I AM AFRAID THAT LIKE YOU I WOULD AGREE THAT WE CANNOT RISK THE ABSENCE OF THE GUARD SHIP AT A TIME WHEN IT REALLY MAY
BE NEEDED. IT IS ALSO RELEVANT THAT WERE WE TO GAMBLE ON THIS AND LOSE, IT WOULD ADD YET ONE MORE COMPLICATION TO THE CURRENT NEGOTIATION OF OUR NEW DEFENCE COSTS AGREEMENT.
2. WE ARE IN CLOSE TOUCH WITH THE AMERICANS ABOUT THE 64 SHIPS ON WRICH THEY HAVE SPASMODIC SURVEILLANCE. THE SHIPS ARE NOT IN ANY
SORT OF FORMATION AND ARE PROCEEDING VERY SLOWLY AND THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THEY WILL NOT SPLIT UP AND MAKE FOR DIFFERENT DESTINATIONS. THE PRESENT ASSUMPTION IS THAT THEY ARE MAKING FOR EITHER SUBIC BAY OR GUAM, BUT THE POSSIBILITY OF SOME OR ALL
MAKING FOR HONG KONG REMAINS. AMERICAN NAVAL AUTHORITIES TELL US PROBABILITIES ARE NOT LIKELY TO BECOME CLEAR BEFORE ABOUT 26 MAY.
HOWEVER THEY SAY THAT WHILE THE POSITION MIGHT BE CLARIFIED BEFORE THEN, E.G. BY THE SHIPS TAKING THE NORTH-EASTERLY COURSE AFTER CLEARING BORNEO, IT IS QUITE POSSIBLE THAT EVEN BY 26 MAY THE
POSSIBILITY OF A GROUP MAKING FOR HONG KONG CANNOT BE EXCLUDED.
3. I AM SORRY THIS MUST ALL SEEM SO UNSATISFACTORY TO TOKYO, BUT
THESE ARE THE FACTS AS THEY NOW ARE. IF H.M. AMBASSADOR WERE
PREPARED TO ADOPT HIS FALL-BACK PROPUSAL OF A VISIT TO NIIGATA
FROM 30 MAY TO 2 JUNE, AND IF HE WERE PREPARED TO AGREE THAT A
DECISION ON THIS COULD BE POSTPONED UP TO 26 MAY, AND IF HE APPRECIATES THAT EVEN THEN THE DECISION MAY HAVE TO BE TO HOLD
THE SHIP HERE, I FOR MY PART WOULD HAVE NO OBJECTION TO THE OPTION
ON THE VISIT BEING KEPT OPEN. MOREOVER IT IS BY NO MEANS CERTAIN
THAT THE M O D WOULD AGREE TO ALL THIS IN VIEW OF OTHER CONFLICTING
NAVAL COMMITMENTS. BUT I REALISE WHAT A MOST UNSATISFACTORY PROPOSITION THIS IS, AND THAT THE LESSER EVIL MIGHT BE TO ACCEPT
FULL CANCELLATION NOW.
4. YOU WILL ALSO APPRECIATE THAT THIS 64 VESSEL ARMADA IS BY NO
MEANS THE ONLY SOURCE OF FURTHER REFUGEES FOR HONG KONG, AND WE
SIMPLY CANNOT ACCEPT ANY MORE THAN WE ALREADY HAVE.
5. WILFORD HAS SEEN THIS AND AGREES.
6. INCIDENTALLY IF THE DECISION IS TO MAINTAIN FULL CANCELLATION
WOULD IT HELP IF WE WERE TO EXPLAIN THE REASONS TO THE JAPANESE
CONSUL-GENERAL HERE?
MACLEHOSE
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