the issue boils down to whether critical remarks in the text on a past
episode and its consequences, watered down as a result of discussions
with the Department, can really damage British negotiating prospects
in the current talks.
I confess I found our talk disappointing. I have made
considerable efforts, carried out two revisions of the text and met
three quarters of your detailed requests. I had the impression we
were nearly there. You are now finding new grounds for objection
outside the two offending chapters and a new (Hong Kong) round of
vetting is threatened. I am sure you will try to expedite matters. But
I must put the text to the publishers next week. I shall try to keep
the issue open for a week or two. But the question I shall soon face
is whether I accept that the text of the book next spring is to be
that agreed with the Government, on terms still not plain to me, or
whether I conclude I am probably never going to be able to satisfy you
and that the final text would be better decided simply in the light
of what I think fair and accurate.
I am sending a copy of this letter to David Gillmore.
Sir Robin Butler G.C.B. C.V.O.
Cabinet Office
70 Whitehall
London SW1 2AS