Page 107
3.
Let me say at the outset that we entirely agree
that the first step must be the acceptance for
rejection) by United Kingdom Ministers of
for planning purposes
political
assumptions, or something like them. We agree also that/detailed joint planning on the defence of Hong Kong ideally the accept and by the h.S. Gaul of these assumptious should a obtained Auton we embark must take place in the Far East, and that the acceptance a) (ar de-embark) on
and
thank
•
by the United States Government of the assumptions
planning os
should rightly be sought before we embark (or re-embark)
on that exergise,
But neither the Foreign Office nor
ourselves think that we will succeed in securing that
acceptance without there being a fairly frank & full
in the to Anglo-4-5. Working brows
discussion of our position in Hong Kong and an
/of
indication of what we ourselves are doing on both the
ve
subversion and the military fronts to keep our end up.
It must be remembered that our main objective will, if
accepted, represent a considerable step for the United
States to take. They are unlikely to take it without
a good deal of encouragement.
thu
h.k.
Indeed it is the intention q Prufsonatory working Party to suderint proposals to u.k. munistes
on the political objectives to th pundured in discussion with the Americans. These salitual objectives with in effect constitute planning assumptions on which wh will as seeking
unwilling
They may even be unlikely
to take it without knowing in advance pressity what jointTM
chuld
military plans een be made and what the timing and cost,
etc., will be. We hope that they won't want to go into great
such detail at this stage and that they would, at the
satisfied with
most, be paspaned to see an outline plan or concept of
defence worked out But we do feel that at the least the U.S. Sout
Anglo-4.5.
they will want a fairly full report by the Washington
Working Group, and it was with this request in mind
that at the meeting of our U.K. Preparatory Working
agreed to
Party on the 31st December we put in hand the preparation
>
of two papers
·
one on the extent and capability of the
our position face
Hong Kong garrison to maintain itself in the event of the
agreed threat in giroumstances in which the United States
without
assistance:
;
did not accept the given assumptions for planning
Page 107
Concurent.
American
the basis of on which they would on; In Aupared to acceptione
consider
/
the poletual sospir courant went involved in
1
ain assumptikes. If that stafi is reached
detailed
planning
Cotta
can i causferred "Hon East
Page 107
/purposes
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