TNAG-0027-FCO40-63-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 43

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COMMONWEALTH OFFICE TELEGRAM NO, 2579 TO HONG KONG

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CONTACTS ON SPECIFIC POINTS COULD BE USEFULLY PURSUED EXCEPT IN

HONG KONG OR PEKING, SINCE IT IS USUALLY NECESSARY FOR SUCH QUOTE NEGOTIATIONS UNQUOTE TO COVER IN SOME DEPTH PRACTICAL DETAILS OF

THE PROBLEM UNDER DISCUSSION.

•

5. WE AGREE WITH HOPSON THAT THE CHINESE, IF THEY WISH TO DISENGAGE,

WILL FIND IT NECESSARY TO DEMONSTRATE SOME KIND OF QUOTE VICTORY UNQUOTE. AT SOME STAGE IT MAY BE USEFUL TO HELP THEM FIND A FACE- SAVING FORMULA - BUT WE SHOULD WANT TO BE PRETTY SURE THAT IT WOULD ACHIEVE 'THE DESIRED RESULT. IN ANY CASE THIS STAGE HAS NOT YET COME. IF IT DOES, THE CHINESE WILL PROBABLY GIVE US AN INDICATION THEM- SELVES OF WHAT THEY WOULD EXPECT. IF WE HELP THEM IN THIS PREMATURE- LY, WE ARE PROBABLY LIKELY TO ENCOURAGE THE QUOTE EXTREMISTS UNQUOTE

RATHER THAN THE QUOTE MODERATES UNQUOTE.

5. PLEASE PASS COPY TO GALSWORTHY,

C.O.

CROSEC

FILES

H.K.D.

F.E. AND P.D.

P.S.

P.U.S.

MR. HALL

F.0.

P.S.

P.U.S.D. F.E.D.

P.S.D.

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