TNAG-0024-FCO40-60-Visits-by-nuclear-powered-ships-1968 — Page 113

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visit that publicity should be restricted. I do not think that we can reasonably demand that there should be no publicity whatsoever, but we can certainly ask that this should be restrained and not such as is likely to offend the Chinese.

A Liability Agreement

5. There does not appear to be any difficulty about extending to Hong Kong the 1964 Agreement on the Savarnah although it may be necessary to clarify the exact relation- ship between FAST and the U.S. Government now that the ship is no longer directly owned by the Government. Our legal advisers are not however happy about committing ourselves to internal U.S. legislation which we would apparently be doing if we agreed to the suggested draft American Mote enclosed with your letter.

6.

Since this problem is somewhat complex I suggest that the best procedure would be for a decision first to be taken on whether a visit by the Savannah is politically acceptable. The legal and liability details can then be settled between your Department and our Scientific Relations Department (Mr. T. N. Young Extension 669). I understand that he has already had some dealings on this subject with Mr. Noble in your Economic General Department.

Arrangements in Hong Kong

7.

This is not strictly our province but I agree with the suggestions in your letter that:

(a) we should provide a monitoring team from here, for which the Americans would pay;

and (b) the Savannah should go no further into

Hong Kong harbour than U.S. nuclear warships are allowed to do.

Liaison with the Americans

8. I understand that Lyons in the American Embassy is anxious to know as soon as possible whether we will agree to this visit. He now says that the Savannah is due to sail for Hong Kong on 23 May. If you wish, we will tell the U.S. Embassy about the political acceptability of a visit as soon as a decision is made. If you do agree that a visit should take place we can leave it to him to liaise on the legal and safety aspects with the experts.

9 I am sending copies of this letter to Waddingham (Navy Department), Runciman (A.E.A.) and Miss Llewellyn Smith (Board of Trade).

Yours ever, John Benson

(J. B. DENSON)

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