CONFIDENTIAL AND STRICTLY PERSONAL
4.
Sir Robin Butler said in reply that he recognised that the amended text went some way towards meeting two of our main concerns (para 2 above); we were willing to continue the "exploration"; and I was available to do
this.
5.
I met Sir Percy on 6 August and indicated about 30 points in the text which we saw as potentially damaging for reasons stated above. He undertook to reconsider. He alleged at one point that our aim seemed to be to remove all criticism of the Government. I told him firmly that that was not the case. Our concerns were only those that had been stated to him. Our aim was not to suppress all
criticism. Even if he accepted all the amendments we wished, criticism would remain.
6.
On 7 August Sir Percy sent a further revised text. This embodied the bulk of the amendments we had discussed. As to the remainder, most of which were designed to remove reference to our alleged "policy of confrontation", he stuck to his guns.
7.
In the PUS's absence, but with his agreement, I wrote to the Cabinet Secretary on 10 August. I said that from the point of view of the FCO we would be content for the Cabinet Secretary to withdraw his objection to publication. The earlier revelation of delicate points in past negotiations had been removed, so our ability to conduct confidential negotiations with the Chinese in the future would not be impaired. Nor did we think that publication of the latest version would significantly weaken our negotiating position (even though it retained a certain amount of critical comment).
8.
The Cabinet Secretary will consider the position on his return from leave at the end of August.
9.
I have kept the Governor informed of this affair though I have not interrupted his holiday to bring him up to date in the terms of this minute. I shall write again to him when the Cabinet Secretary has taken a decision. Mr Patten told me earlier that he was content with the line that Sir P Cradock should either postpone publication or publish without the two offending chapters. He later sent me a strictly personal letter suggesting that we
CONFIDENTIAL AND STRICTLY PERSONAL