TNAG-0022-FCO40-58-Facilities-for-US-Forces-1968 — Page 116

CYPHER/CAT A

CONFIDENTIAL

TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

818

TOP COPY

PRIORITY HONG KONG

2 JULY 1968

TELEGRAM NUMBER 841

RECEIVED IN

AYHYES No.63

-3 JUL168

CONFIDENTIAL.

KIWA 2/1

ADDRESSED COMMONWEALTH OFFICE AS MY TELEGRAM NO. 84 DATED 2ND JULY

REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO FEKING AND WASHINGTON, AND SAVING TO

POLAD SINGAPORE.

!

MY TELEGRAM NO. 817: U.S. NAVAL VISITS.

THE AMERICANS HAVE NOW FORMALLY REQUESTED CLEARANCE FOR THE

FOLLOWING MAJOR WARSHIP VISITS IN JULY:-

VALLEY FORGE CAM HIBIOUS ASSAULT SHIP)

8

13 JULY

BONHOMME RICHARD CATTACK CARRIER)

15

J

21 JULY

BOSTON CHEAVY CRUISER, GUIDED MISSILE)

25

30 JULY

(190)

2. THE VISIT OF VALLEY FORGE WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR 10 - 15

(190) JULY CMY TELEGRAM NO. 703) AND HAS EVIDENTLY BEEN BROUGHT FORWARD

TO AVOID A POSSIBLE OVERLAP WITH BONHOMME RICHARD. BOSTON WAS DUE

HERE FROM 1 6 JUNE BUT THE VISIT WAS CANCELLED AFTER WE HAD

INDICATED THAT A VISIT AT THAT TIME WOULD NOT BE ACCEPTABLE CMY

198 TELEGRAM NO. 716).

3. ALL THESE VISITS ARE IN THE PRESENT GUIDLINES AND WE DO NOT

REGARD ANY AS INTRINSICALLY CONTROVERSIAL. NONE OF THE SHIPS IS

NUCLEAR POWERED: THE LARGEST OF THEM (BONHOMME RICHARD) IS A SISTER

SHIP TO TICONDEROGA, WHICH EVOKE A VERY MUTED RESPONSE FROM THE

LOCAL COMMUNISTS WHEN SHE WAS HERE FROM 19 25 JUNE CMY TELEGRAM 216 NO. 817).

LAST p--

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REXI

REF

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CONFIDENTIAL