RESTRICTED
047303 MDTTAN 7862
4. LELLOUCHE DID NOT SEEM ENTIRELY CONVINCED, BUT HAS BEEN GIVEN PAUSE FOR THOUGHT. AWAY FROM THE LIVE PLATFORM OF HONG KONG, I DOUBT IF CHIRAC WILL PURSUE HIS PROPOSAL. FOR THE REASONS GIVEN IN PARA 4 OF NICK CANNON'S TELELETTER OF L3 NOVEMBER, THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT ARE UNLIKELY TO FOLLOW CHIRAC'S LINE. EVEN IF THEY SYMPATHISE WITH IT, THEY HAVE NO DOMESTIC POLITICAL INTEREST IN RUNNING WITH AN OPPOSITION LEADER'S PET IDEA.
SIGNED JR YOUNG
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