GEORET
228
GR, 100
SECRET
FM FCO 20150OZ DEC 78
TO ROUTINE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NUMBER 960 OF 20 DECEMBER
INFO PEKING
FOR GOVERNOR FROM MCLAREN
ja
HKK_020/1-51
RECEIVED IN
INDLA
220.73
P.
RY
миний сеё
YOUR TELEGRAM NO 1441 AND PEKING TELEGRAM NO 930:
INVITATION TO VISIT PEKING
کے
1. WE WILL CERTAINLY HAVE TO SUBMIT TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE
AND HE MAY THINK IT DESIRABLE TO CONSULT THE PRIME MINISTER.
AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND I SEE NO PROSPECT OF OBTAINING APPROVAL
FOR YOU TO ACCEPT THE INVITATION IN PRINCIPLE BEFORE CHRISTMAS
THOUGH I WILL MOVE THINGS FORWARD AS QUICKLY AS I CAN
2. IN THE MEANTIME I HOPE THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO TEMPORISE,
USING THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS AS A PERFECTLY GENUINE EXCUSE.
3. OUR PRELIMINARY REACTIONS AT OFFICIAL LEVEL ARE THAT THE
BALANCE OF ADVANTAGE PROBABLY LIES IN ACCEPTING THE INVITATION
BUT WE SHALL NEED TO CONSIDER VERY CAREFULLY THE TIMING, CONTENT
AND PRESENTATION
OWEN
FILES
HD |HROGD
HD IFED
MR CORTAZZI
SEORET