در
RESTRICTED
saw the difficulty: no army in any country could accept the indiscipline of desertion. Our principle was that the law must be strictly upheld, but that it should be applied with mercy (a shameless piece of diplomatic weaseling).
Yours evet,
Peter
CC:
POLAD, Hong Kong
Chancery, UKMIS Geneva
Chancery, Washington
P Reddicliffe Esq, RD/SSEA, FCO
RESTRICTED
PJ D Whitehead