274
OCMIAN 6193
SECRET
DD 16010OZ HOKON
FM FCOLN TO HOKON
151800Z NOV
GRS 331
SECRET
FM FCO
TO DESKBY 160100Z HONG KONG
TELNO 1794
OF 15180OZ NOVEMBER 85
INFO IMMEDIATE PEKING
SECRET
6193
1
272
HKK 011/1
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY 19 NOV 1935
REGISTRY
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM WILSON
YOUR TELNO 2527: JOINT LIAISON GROUP: REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT
1. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO EXCO FOR THEIR WILLINGNESS TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF PERCEPTIONS AT THIS END ON WHAT IS INEVITABLY A DIFFICULT MATTER OF JUDGMENT. WE ARE PUTTING THE MATTER TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE OVER THE WEEKEND AND WILL LET YOU KNOW HIS DECISION ON MONDAY. WE FULLY UNDERSTAND EXCO'S SENSITIVITIES, AND INDEED TO A CONSIDERABLE EXTENT SHARE THEM. WE ALL AGREE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH BETTER IF A CHINESE FORMAL PROPOSAL TO PUT THIS ITEM ON THE AGENDA HAD BEEN PREEMPTED. WHERE WE DIFFER FROM EXCO IS THAT WE DO NOT BELIEVE THAT ONCE SUCH A FORMAL PROPOSAL HAS BEEN MADE IT CAN BE UNMADE. AS WE SEE IT, TO TRY TO DO SO WOULD ENTRENCH THE CHINESE RATHER THAN SHIFT THEM TOWARDS THE INFORMAL DIALOGUE WE WANT.
2. WE CANNOT OF COURSE EXCLUDE THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE CHINESE WILL PRESS TO GO FURTHER IN THE JLG THAN WE ARE PREPARED TO ACCEPT.
WE SHALL HAVE TO DEAL WITH ANY SUCH ATTEMPTS AS BEST WE
CAN WHEN THEY HAPPEN.
3. WE FULLY AGREE THAT BETTER INFORMAL CHANNELS TO THE CHINESE
1
SECRET
Action Taken
ABIE
Yo