CONFIDENTIAL
CYPHER/CAT A
IMMEDIATE FOREIGN OFFICE TO PEKING
TELNO 456 6 JUNE, 1967 (F)
226
TRATION
CONFIDENTIAL.
ADDRESSED TO PEKING TELEGRAM NUMBER 456 OF 6 JUNE AND TO HONG
KONG REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO POLAD SINGAPORE.
HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO. 780: OVERFLYING.
217
WE HAVE DISCUSSED WITH THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE AND THE COMMONWEALTH
OFFICE.
2. AS THE EXERCISE IS PURELY ROUTINE AND HAS ALREADY BEEN PUBLICISED, WE AGREE THAT IT SHOULD CONTINUE. EVEN IF PEKING CRITICISES IT
IN THEIR PUBLICITY, WE THINK WE SHOULD NOT CANCEL IT AS THIS WOULD APPEAR TO BE A CLIMB-DOWN AND WOULD, HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON PUBLIC MORALE IN HONG KONG.
3. WE DO NOT, REPEAT NOT, THINK WE SHOULD TAKE THE INITIATIVE
IN OFFERING ANY APOLOGY OR EXPLANATION TO THE CHINESE. WE ACCEPT THAT TO DO SO WOULD BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR NORMAL PRACTICE
WHEN WE HAVE INFRINGED FOREIGN TERRITORIAL AIRSPACE AND WOULD HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF SHOWING PEKING THAT WE INTEND TO KEEP STRICTLY TO
THE RULES AND ARE NOT TRYING TO PROVOKE THEM. ON THE OTHER HAND, THERE ARE STRONG REASONS AGAINST VOLUNTEERING ANY APOLOGY. BRITISH
PUBLIC OPINION WOULD NOT UNDERSTAND THAT WE SHOULD RUSH IN WITH AN APOLOGY FOR AN ACCIDENTAL NAVIGATIONAL ERROR, WHEN THE CHINESE,
HAVING SUBJECTED OUR REPRESENTATIVES IN CHINA TO GROSS INDIGNITIES AND ABUSED OUR AUTHORITIES IN LONDON AND HONG KONG, REJECTED OUR
PROTESTS AND INSISTED ON JUSTIFYING THEIR ATROCIOUS BEHAVIOUR. PEKING WOULD ALMOST CERTAINLY PUBLICISE OUR EXPLANATION AS EITHER AN ATTEMPT TO COVER UP A DELIBERATE PROVOCATION OR ABJECT SURRENDER.
THE LATTER WOULD NOT HELP TO MAINTAIN PUBLIC MORALE IN HONG KONG.
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LAST
REF.
CONFIDENTIAL
217
RECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES 1.63
вод
- 8 JU 5:07
Hep 1/1
SENT TO HONG KONG AS COMMONWEALTÍ OFFICE (b.TD.)
TELEGRAM NO. 1137
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