PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL
5. This leaves the question of the briefings which we have given Sir P Cradock, as agreed with Ministers, when he has approached us from time to time for information on progress in our discussions with the Chinese. The Governor has a point when he says that this does not seem to have worked to our advantage, even though I do not think it can be said that Sir P Cradock has in any way misused the information which has been given to him. We propose that, in advance of his forth-coming visit to the Far East, we should not take the initiative in briefing him on the state of our negotiations with the Chinese. Should he ask us we should brief him, but only in general terms. The purpose of this would be to make it less likely that he could unwittingly say something, either to the Chinese or in public, which could actually make our negotiating task more difficult.
PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL
When
CO Hum