CO537-3706 — Page 139

4. As regards the draft statement (which

is contained in my immediately following

telegram), it was explained to the Ambassador

that this had only been under consideration at

a departmental level and that he must not

therefore in any way regard it as final.

It was then read out to him, and he expressed

the opinion that it would be valuable if you

could give the Chinese Government some idea

of the kind of statement we had in mind on the

lines of this text.

5. Finally, the Ambassador pressed for

the release of the two men. He was reminded

that the question of their release lay entirely

with the Governor of Hong Kong.

Nevertheless

if the Chinese Government agreed in principle to

the solution proposed, we should be prepared to

enquire whether the Governor of Hong Kong would

be willing to release the two men without

necessarily waiting for final details to be

completed.

6. There seems to us to be no reason why

we should not offer alternatives to the Chinese

Government as long as they do not go beyond the

concessions we are willing to make, and unless

therefore you see objection, you should act

in the manner suggested by the Chinese Ambassador.

You should at the same time make it clear that

the statement is merely a tentative one which

has only been discussed at departmental level.

小樽 ५.