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5. I WENT ON TO REAFFIRM OUR GREAT DESIRE TO SETTLE THIS CRISIS PEACEFULLY, BUT SAID WE RESERVED THE ULTIMATE RIGHT TO USE FORCE
IN DEFENCE OF OUR OWN TERRITORY. IF FORCE WAS USED, WE WOULD BE
''COUNTER-ATTACKING IN SELF-DEFENCE’’.
6. ZHANG OBJECTED TO MY REFERENCE TO THE SPRATLEYS AND PARACELS,
BUT OTHERWISE MADE NO COMMENTS OF SUBSTANCE. I ENDED BY ASKING
THAT CHINA'S INFLUENCE BE USED TO ENSURE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF
SCR 502.
7. I AM UNDER NO ILLUSIONS THAT THE CHINESE POSITION WILL CHANGE
AFTER THIS DEMARCHE, BUT THEY WILL HAVE REGISTERED THE POINTS
AND THIS MAY ENCOURAGE CAUTION. THE BEST WE CAN HOPE IS THAT CHINA
REMAINS NEUTRAL.
CRADOCK
THIS TELEGRAM
WAS NOT ADVANCED
FCO
S AM D
CABINET OFFICE
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTION
FALKLAND ISLANDS
COPIES TO
PS/CHANCELLOR
SIR K COUZENS MR LITTLLOR
MR HAWTIN
MR PERETZ
ILEM
TREASURY
MR FULLER. DIO CABINET OFFICE MISS DICKSON (EIP DIVN) D/ENERGY
SIR M PALLISER CABINET OFFICE
2
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