REC
010/2
Mr Marris
Sir Robin Butler GCB CVO
Cabinet Office
70 Whitehall
London SW1A 2AS
Ref:A093/2847
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303 Richmond Road
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Middlesex TW1 2NP
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Artentioned by SITP to Sir J Cater
on 27 ix'
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PSPUS 281x
Thank you for your letter of 17 September, confirming the good
news in our telephone conversation, that my book had been passed for
publication, subject to the agreed amendments. I am, needless to say,
delighted and most grateful to you and the Foreign Office for
handling the matter quickly and sympathetically.
Having reached this happy state, I do not wish to complicate it
in any way. But there are two supplementary points I need to
make.
The first is simple. The publishers have insisted on a prefatory
chapter on Sino-British relations from 1793 to 1962 (the start of the
personal story) to help set the scene and to provide an easy
introduction for the non-specialist reader. I think they are right
and have written an introductory essay.
It is entirely potted
history, and I am sure will cause you no trouble; but for completeness
sake I enclose a copy.
The second could be more tricky. I am concerned that there might
be important developments over Hong Kong before the book finally goes
to the printers; and the publishers will probably set aside a slot,
perhaps in December, to allow for last minute updating. I shall want
to make this as uncontentious as possible; but I shall have to show
some recognition of events; and if, for example, the talks were
broken off, there would have to be textual changes at several points
in the book. I would naturally put these to you; but it would require
a very speedy response.
I am not sure that I can do more than alert you to the issue now.
But you have no doubt encountered it before; and if there are any