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6. ON THE OPENING OF SUBSTANTIVE CONTACT WITH HMG CHEN HAD CONFIRMED
THAT THIS SHOULD AWAIT COMPLETION OF THE REVIEW, A UK OFFICIAL
DELEGATION WOULD THEN BE INVITED TO GO TO PEKING FOR DISCUSSIONS. AN APPROPRIATE POINT OF PRELIMINARY CONTACT FOR
THE EMBASSY MIGHT BE THE MINISTRY OF ELECTRIC POWER RATHER
THAN THE 2ND MINISTER OF MACHINE BUILDING.
7. IN REPLY TO A QUESTION PUT BY ZHANG, CHEN HAD EXPRESSED A PERSONAL OPINION THAT THE CHINESE SHOULD GO FOR A FRENCH REACTOR,
AND HAD SAID THAT WE MIGHT DO WELL TO PREPARE A JOINT ANGLO/FRENCH PROPOSAL.
8. COMMENT (UNDERLINED). WE NOW HAVE CONFIRMATION FROM THREE SOURCES (2MMB, LU YING AND CHEN GANG) THAT THE RIGHT TIME FOR SUBSTANTIVE TALKS ON THE PROJECT IS ON COMPLETION OF THE REVIEW. ON CHOICE OF REACTOR SUPPLIER ON THE OTHER HAND, WE HAVE THREE DIFFERENT STORIES: POTTER'S REPORT THAT THE CHINESE FAVOUR AN AMERICAN REACTOR (SEE MY TELNO INDUS 66 OF 18 MAY), LU YING'S ASSERTION THAT THEY HAVE NOT DEVELOPED A PREFERENCE (SEE MY TELNO BTC 88) AND NOW CHEN GANG'S QUOTE PERSONAL OPINION UNQUOTE THAT A FRENCH REACTOR WOULD BE THE BEST CHOICE. AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND IT SEEMS MOST UNLIKELY THAT FURTHER ATTEMPTS AT CLARIFICATION WOULD BE PRODUCTIVE FOR THE TIME BEING.
THOMSON
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