CO537-2187 — Page 24

transpires in Moscow.

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Mr. Seel

With reference to your minute of the

3rd March, Mr. Bevin's letter at No.97 is a little confusing, and I would interpret it as meaning that Mr. Bevin takes the view that if it is necessary to submit the Hong Kong problem for Ministerial consideration, it should go direct to the Cabinet and not via the F.E.(0) Committee, but that the question of any such submission should be deferred until after he (Mr. Bevin) has discussed policy towards China with Mr. Marshall.

This is generally in line with the advice which Mr. Kitson of the Foreign Office told me they were submitting to Mr. Bevin, as reported in my minute of the 19th February. If any reply is to be sent to Mr. Bevin's letter now, I suggest that it should be on the lines recommended at AA in my minute of the 19th February. But we are not likely to get much further with the Foreign Office on this question in Mr. Bevin's absence and, on this

main