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3. Sir P Cradock is evidently worried at the prospect that his actions in publishing without our consent would draw an official and public condemnation. Despite his protestation that his
letter is an exploration only and does not constitute a definite
offer, he is clearly offering to horse-trade. The amendments he
has made to the chapters on the airport negotiations and constitutional development represent an improvement. The specific points which we regarded as unacceptable have all been
removed. There is scope for improving the text still further if
we can persuade Sir Percy to accept more revisions (which can all be presented as points of fact). I believe the best way to do this would be in a further meeting where Sir J Coles might take Sir Percy through a detailed list.
4. When he last expressed a view (his letter to Sir J Coles of
25 June), the Governor appeared to have concluded that the potential damage if we were blamed for trying to gag Sir Percy risked outweighing any damage the book might do. In this light
the Governor should be content with an outcome in which HMG did
not resist publication, but instead negotiated the terms of a
less hostile text.
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J C Morris
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