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023234 MDTTAN 0579
well, wouldn't
you?
ON 10 OCTOBER WHEN CHINESE PRESS REPORTS QUOTED LHASA POLICE OFFICIALS AS SAYING THAT AT LEAST 50 FOREIGN TOURISTS OR FOREIGN NATIONALS IN THE CAPACITY OF TOURIST (WHATEVER THAT DISTINCTION
1EANS) WERE SEEN AMONG THE LEADING RIOTERS ON 1 OCTOBER THROWING STONES AT POLICEMEN, TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR INCITING THE RIOTERS TO FURTHER VIOLENCE. THE REPORT SAID THAT THIS DIRECT INVOLVEMENT IN THE RIOT WAS CLEAR EVIDENCE OF THEIR ULTERIOR MOTIVES. THESE WERE PRETTY STRONG WORDS. SO FAR NEITHER WE NOR THE US EMBASSY HERE HAVE ANY FIRM REPORTS OF ACTION BEING TAKEN BY THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES AGAINST TOURISTS, OTHER THAN THE TWO AMERICANS WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN ASKED TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY,
5.
TO MY KNOWLEDGE THE SIATUATION IN LHASA REMAINS QUIET, THERE IS NO OBVIOUS REASON WHY THE CHINESE SHOULD WISH NOW TO PREVENT NEWS GETTING OUT OF TIBET. I SUSPECT THAT THESE ALLEGED FOREIGNERS MAY BE BEING USED AS A SCAPEGOAT, AND THAT BY DEALING WITH THIS IMAGINARY THREAT THE CHINESE ARE SHOWING THEMSELVES TO BE TAKING ACTION, AND ARE SHIFTING THE BLAME FOR THE TROUBLES ON TO FOREIGN MACHINATIONS. IT SHOULD NOT PROVE TOO HARMFUL TO THE FOREIGN EXCHANGE GENERATING SECTION OF THE TOURIST TRADE AS THE NUMBERS OF REGULAR GROUPS WILL BE FALLING OFF SHARPLY WITH THE ADVENT OF WINTER. BUT THE MAIN DAMAGE TO CHINA'S INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION, SUCH AS IT IS, HAS ALREADY BEEN DONE AND IT IS HARD TO SEE HOW CLOSING TIBET COULD IMPROVE MATTERS. NOR IS IT LIKELY THAT BY RESTRICTING ACCESS BY FOREIGNERS THE CHINESE WILL CAUSE THE
TIBETANS' GRIEVANCES TO DISAPPEAR.
SIGNED: ROD WYE.
do you Huick they
unight
part believe it?
may be
EVANS
YYYY
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