CONFIDENTIAL
HKB
24319
126
131605
MDHIAN 3586
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HANOI
TO DESKBY 18090OZ FCO
TELNO 374
OF 18080OZ JULY 89
AND TO DESKBY 18090OZ HONG KONG
YOUR TELNO 252 OF 17 JULY: VBP: REPARIATION:
1.
TOP COPY Q DIST ?
I AM SEEING MINISTRY OF LABOUR AT 1903OOZ TOMORROW
MORNING. GRATEFUL FOR HONG KONG'S VIEWS ON SUGGESTED LINE BY THEN.
2.
WE ARE INDEED IN A WEAK NEGOTIATING POSITION AND I SUSPECT
THAT THE VIETNAMESE WILL TRY AND FORCE US UP TO AS NEAR THEIR
CURRENT OFFER OF 679 DOLLARS AS POSSIBLE.
DESPITE WHAT WAS AT FIRST I AM SURE A GENUINE RESPONSE TO THACH'S INSTRUCTION TO GET THINGS MOVING, IT SEEMS THAT THEY ARE NOW PREPARED TO PREVARICATE IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THEIR ENDS. I NOW REGRET MOVING SO QUICKLY FROM 500-600 DOLLARS EXCLAMATION
3. THE MINISTRY OF LABOUR MAY NOW SURPRISE ME AND AGREE TO END THIS TEDIOUS PROCESS BY ACCEPTING 620 DOLLARS, BUT I DOUBT IT.
•
I FEAR THAT THEY WILL MOVE ONLY LITTLE BY LITTLE AND AIM TO FORCE
US UP TO AN EVEN HIGHER FIGURE. THE ARGUMENT IN YOUR TUR FOR SETTING
A LIMIT AT 620 DOLLARS ARE ESSENTIALLY THOSE I HAVE ALREADY
USED IN FAVOUR OF 600 DOLLARS. THE BLUFF AS IT WERE HAS ALREADY BEEN CALLED ONCE. IF THE VIETNAMESE DO NOT AGREE AT 620 DOLLARS WHAT DO WE DO THEN? IF YOU ARE CONTENT THAT I SIMPLY REPORT
HOEWEVER I WONDER WHETHER IT MIGHT BE BETTER
IN CASE OF FURTHER DEADLOCK TO BACK UP MY APPROACH WITH A MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE TO THACH.
BACK THEN SO BE IT.
PARTRIDGE
YYYY
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CONFIDENTIAL