TNAG-0020-FCO40-56-Facilities-for-US-Forces-1967 — Page 150

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CORY FOR REGISTRATION

CONFIDENTIAL

CYPHER/CAT.A.

PRIORITY

न

ি

FOREIGN OFFICE TO WASHINGTON

(FD 10/1)

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TELNO. 997 31 JANUARY, 1967.

CONFIDENTIAL

ADDRESSED TO WASHINGTON TELEGRAM NUMBER 997 OF 31 JANUARY 1967

REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO HONG KONG MANILA SEOUL POLAD SINGAPORE AND SAIGON.

SAIGON TELEGRAM NUMBER 72: R. AND R. IN HONG KONG FOR FILIPINO AND KOREAN FORCES.

IT IS CLEAR FROM PARAGRAPH 2 OF THE TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE THAT THE AMERICANS ARE IN NO DOUBT THAT PRIOR AUTHORISATION FROM THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT IS NEEDED FOR THESE VISITS AND THAT THEY

HAVE TOLD THE KOREANS AND THE FILIPINOS SO FROM THE BEGINNING.

2. THOUGH THE LIKELY NUMBER OF FILIPINOS AND KOREANS WOULD BE SMALL, WE AGREE WITH THE ARGUMENTS IN HONG KONG TELEGRAM NUMBER 70. TO REFUSE OUTRIGHT COULD, HOWEVER, CAUSE US CONSIDERABLE EMBARRASSMENT IN MANILA AND SEOUL. WE THEREFORE HOPE THAT, NOT- WITHSTANDING ANY ASSURANCES THE AMERICANS MAY HAVE GIVEN THAT TROOPS OF OTHER NATIONALITIES WOULD ENJOY AMERICAN R.AND R. FACILITIES, THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO ARRANGE THE PROGRAMME IN SUCH A WAY THAT FILIPINOS AND KOREANS WERE NOT INCLUDED (THEY HAVE, IN ANY CASE, NO RIGHT TO GIVE ASSURANCES WHERE TERRITORIES SUCH AS HONG KONG ARE CONCERNED). THE AMERICANS FULLY UNDERSTAND THE DIFFICULTIES THE CHINESE CAN CAUSE OVER THE USE OF HONG KONG BY U.S. FORCES AND THAT WE DO OUR BEST IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES TO BE HELPFUL. AS THESE DIFFICULTIES MIGHT BE COMPOUNDED IF THE FORCES OF OTHER COUNTRIES WHICH HAD NOT REGULARLY SENT TROOPS TO HONG KONG BEGAN TO DO SO,

IT IS IN THE AMERICANS OWN INTERESTS NOT TO INCREASE THIS RISK.

3. IF THE AMERICANS INSIST THAT THE MATTER MUST BE SETTLED DIRECT BETWEEN THE PHILIPPINE AND SOUTH KOREAN GOVERNMENTS AND OURSELVES, WE

LAST

NEXI

REF.

2

CONFIDENTIAL

...../ SHALL HAVE

.63

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES

2rionw

HOA

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