FM TOKYO
160230Z
CONFIDENTIAL
99
RECEIVED
REGISTRY No.52 19 MAY 1975
Enjcical
FEA
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TEL NO 585 OF 16 MAY 75.
REPEATED FOR INFO TO HONG KONG (FOR GOVERNOR), SEOUL ( FOR BRITDEFAT) AND CINC FLEET.
FOLLOWING PERSONAL FOR WILFORD.
1. WE HAVE BEEN EXPECTING HMS CHICHESTER TO VISIT MAIZURU AND NIIGATA FROM 23 MAY UNTIL 2 JUNE. I NOW HEAR FROM
COMMODORE HONG KONG THAT THE VISIT HAS BEEN CANCELLED AT
ONLY A WEEK'S NOTICE BECAUSE OF FEARS THAT CHICHESTER MAY HAVE TO DEAL WITH AN INFLUX OF VIETNAMESE REFUGEES TO THE
COLONY,
2. IT IS NOT FOR ME TO JUDGE THE LIKELIHOOD OF MORE REFUGEES
MAKING FOR HONG KONG, ALTHOUGH IT WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT THE
THE DANGER WAS RAPIDLY DIMINISHING. I DO FEEL HOWEVER THAT
THE CANCELLATION OF THIS VISIT WOULD-BE A MISTAKE. IN THE
WAKE OF THE QUEEN'S VISIT BRITISH STANDING IS FANTASTICALLY
HIGH IN JAPAN AND EVERYONE IS INTERESTED IN BRITAIN AND THINGS
BRITISH. I CANNOT IMAGINE A BETTER MOMENT FOR A NAVAL VISIT.
I WOULD BE MOST GRATEFUL IF YOU COULD ASK THE MINISTRY OF
DEFENCE TO RECONSIDER THE WHOLE MATTER URGENTLY. I WOULD
PREFER THE WHOLE PROGRAMME TO GO FORWARD AS PLANNED, BUT WE COULD PERHAPS ACCEPT AS A FALL-BACK THE VISIT TO NIIGATA
FROM 30 MAY TO 2 JUNE ALONE.
WARKER.
ра
勖
1076
Page 135Page 136