CONFIDENTIAL
381
IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELNO 354
CONDENTIAL
19 MARCH 1968
ADDRESSED CO TELEGRAM NO. 354 OF 19TH MARCH RPTD PEKING.
366)
MY TELEGRAM NO. 333.
HW
OF THE TWO POINTS (PARAGRAPH 3 OF MY TELEGRAM UNDER REFERENCE)
RAISED BY N.C.N.A. WHICH RUN COUNTER TO WHAT WAS PROPOSED BY
H.M. CHARGE D'AFFAIRES IN PEKING,
(A) THE REQUEST FOR A LARGER NUMBER OF VISITORS COULD BE
MET BY CONCEDING THREE INSTEAD OF TWO (THIS IS THE NUMBER
THAT HAVE BEEN PERMITTED TO VISIT COMMUNIST BANK EMPLOYEES)
SEMICOLON
(B) VISITS TO GROUPS RATHER THAN INDIVIDUALS RAISES A SUBSTANTIAL
DIFFICULTY. TO CONCEDE THIS POINT WOULD SET US ON A SLIPPERY SLOPE
AND CREATE DIFFICULTIES FOR PRISON AUTHORITIES.
2. SINCE THE FORMAL POSITION IS THAT MATTERS OF PRINC I PLE
SHOULD BE SETTLED IN PEKING AND DETAILS ONLY DISCUSSED IN HONG
KONG, I FEEL THAT FOR TIME BEING WE SHOULD MAINTAIN OUR POSITION
ON BOTH THESE POINTS. TO GIVE WAY ON (A) WOULD PREJUDICE OUR
POSITION ON (B).
3. IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE TO FIND SATISFACTORY METHODS OF
MEETING MOST OF THE OTHER POINTS OF DETAIL, EXCEPT FOR THE REQUEST
ABOUT GIFTS TO PRISONERS. I AM VERY UNWILLING TO GIVE WAY ON THE
/QUESTION
CONFIDENTIAL
3660 986
RECEIVED IN
Aves No. 63 19 MAR 1968
HWB 3/~
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