2.
Subject to your views we think that the
review should take place in Washington as this is
where the guide lines were originally negotiated.
The following are our suggestions about the line
which might be taken with the Americans. We
should be grateful for your comments and those of
Washington and Peking in the light of which we
shall submit to Ministers and issue firm
instructions:-
(a) Explain to the Americans on the lines of
paragraph 1 above the particular
difficulties now attendant on naval
visits; emphasise the need to space
visits carefully, especially visits of
heavy vessels, but make it clear that we do not wish at present to trommate or have no repeat no intention of terminating Suspend
or suspending the general arrangements
under which visits take place.
(b) Make the points in paragraph 8 of your
telegram No. 739 and in paragraph 4 of
your telegram No. 703; it would be
helpful if, in the context of your paragraph 4(c) you would specify what
are regarded as "particularly controversial
ships" apart from the Enterprise.
(c) Point out the particular significance
the Chinese undoubtedly attach to the
Enterprise in view of its close
involvement in operations in Vietnam and
the demonstrations against it in Japan,
and indicate that future requests for
visits by this particular ship will
require very careful consideration indeed.
(8430) Dd,033246 600m 9/66 G.W.B.Ltd. Gp.963
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