Страсний
Entièr
Department of Industry
Ashdown House
123 Victoria Street
London SW1E 6RB
Telephone Direct Line 01-2125806
Switchboard 01-212 7676
6th November, 1981
G.H. Stevens Esq., Department of Energy, Thames House South, Millbank,
London SW1P 4QJ
ник
16611
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. $1
ศ NOV. 1981
REGISTRY
Action Taken
DESK OFFICER INDEX
PA
Unu Paololu
Dear Geoffrey,
GUANGDONG
NUCLEAR
PROJECT
07
Thank you for your letter of 3rd November. I had hoped that our telephone conversation would obviate the need for more paper to be splattered around Whitehall but I obviously failed to communicate with you.
I am of course saturated in and supportive of the desire, and rightly so, to generate a package which the UK could deploy if China wishes to have a Westinghouse reactor.
But the main point I made in my telegram is that Dr. Marshall's pressure on Lord Kadoorie in particular (and the former literally chased the latter around Hong Kong House recently) can be counter productive. Kadoorie was upset by Dr. Marshall's persistence and I wished to put March in the picture because he might get the backwash when Kadoorie returned to Hong Kong.
Another point of my concern is, as you know, our inability so far to obtain specific assurances from Bechtel on their role and the responsibility they will take. I understand Bechtel's reluctance but until we and they are clear I believe it is inadvisable to take them completely into our confidence because of the danger of disclosing our negotiating stance to a body which we may find on the other side of the table".
I do hope this clears up any misunderstanding between us, and as I said in my telegram "it is the present policy of HMG to keep both options open". This we will try to do. But we may indirectly be closing the French option if they get too strong an impression of our intentions with Bechtel and Westinghouse. It is a matter of balance.
Copies go as yours.
Youn
eve
A.J.HAVELOCK
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