W(B)L 51-7406
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SECRET
DRAFT MINUTE FROM SECRETARY OF STATE TO THE PRIME MINISTER
SINO-BRITISH RELATIONS
1. Your Private Secretary's minute of
[7 August] asked for an appraisal of
Sino-British relations, and recommendations
for action, in the light of telegrams nos
469 to 471 from HM Ambassador Peking.
2.
I broadly agree with the Ambassador's
arguments and recommendations.
We are
at a very promising juncture in Sino-
Western and more particularly Sino-British
relations. The new Chinese leadership
has made an explicit appeal to advanced
Western countries, including the UK, for
assistance in achieving China's ambitious
programme of modernisation. The regime
is not without some internal tensions but
for practical purposes its leaders work
well together and the course for modernisa-
tion is set firm and likely to persist.
I agree also with the Ambassador that
to achieve these goals China will need a
peaceful environment, and that it is in
the West's interests to encourage her in
this effort. If the West does not respond
positively, there is a risk of the failure
/of the
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