CYPHER/CAT 'A'
IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON
TELEGRAM NO. 1681
SECRET.
SECRET
94
TO FOREIGN OFFICE
19 MAY 1967
1
ADDRESSED TO FOREIGN OFFICE TELEGRAM NO. 1681 OF 19 MAY REPEATED FOR INFORMATION IMMEDIATE TO CANBERRA AND HONG KONG.
HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 647 TO C.R.O.: AUSTRALIAN WHEAT SALES
• TO CHINA.
HWA 3/12.
WE HAVE LEARNT FROM THE AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY, WITHOUT REVEALING THE INFORMATION IN HONG KONG TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE, THAT AS A RESULT OF AN ENQUIRY FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT REGARDING THE POSSIBILITY OF HOLDING UP THE AUSTRALIAN WHEAT DEAL, THE AUSTRALIANS HERE ASKED FOR GUIDANCE FROM CANBERRA AND WERE TOLD VERY FIRMLY (WE DO NOT KNOW BY WHAT DEPARTMENT) THAT THE PROPOSED DEAL WAS A PURELY COMMERCIAL MATTER CONDUCTED BY THE AUSTRALIAN WHEAT BOARD AND THAT GOVERNMENTAL INTERVENTION COULD RAISE THE QUESTION OF COMMERCIAL CONFIDENCE. THE AUSTRALIAN EMBASSY COMMENTED THAT THIS REPLY HAD PROBABLY BEEN SENT BEFORE THE OFFICIALS CONCERNED OR THE DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS HAD FULLY UNDERSTOOD THE POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS OF WHAT WAS NOW TAKING PLACE IN HONG KONG, THE EMBASSY HAVE UNDERTAKEN TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE SIZE OF THE DEAL IS IN THE ORDER OF TWO MILLION TONS,
F O PASS IMMEDIATE CANBERRA 23 HONG KONG 69.
SIR P. DEAN
SENT AT 19/1755Z RECD AT 19/1755Z
(REPEATED AS REQUESTED].
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION
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ECONOMIC GENERAL DEPT.
RECEIVED IN
63
WESTERN ECONOMIC DEPT.
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HUA 1/17
SECRET
SENT TO HONG KONG AS COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (D.T.D.) TELEGRAM
NO.
974
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