SECRET
OUR OFFICIALS HAVE DISCUSSED THIS ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS BUT WE STILL AWAIT A DEFINITIVE REPLY TO THIS REQUEST. THE MATTER HAS NOW BECOME URGENT BECAUSE OF MY PRIME MINISTER'S IMPENDING VISIT TO CHINA DURING WHICH THIS PROJECT IS CERTAIN TO BE DISCUSSED. I UNDERSTAND THAT ONE FACTOR WHICH HAS SO FAR PREVENTED YOUR FROM REACHING A DECISION IS CONCERN ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE CHINESE MAY HAVE BEEN PROVIDING HELP FOR PAKISTAN'S CLANDESTINE NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAMME. THIS QUESTION IS TO BE REVIEWED JOINTLY BY OUR OFFICIALS WITHIN THE NEXT FEWS DAYS AND I VERY MUCH HOPE THAT AS A RESULT OF THAT REVIEW YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PROVIDE US WITH THE ASSURANCE WE SEEK IN THE FIRST FEWS DAYS OF SEPTEMBER AT THE LATEST.
PYM
LIMITED NED
FED
HK GD
NAD
TRED
SAD
PS
PS/PUS
MR GILLMORE
2 SECRET
سا
ADDITIONAL DIST
GUANGDONG
NUCLEAR