TNAG-0031-FCO40-67-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 113

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5. ONLY ROOM FOR MANOEUVRE THEREFORE LIES IN THE DETAINEES. I AM PRESENTLY CONSIDERING A RECOMMENDATION IN THE STUDY REFERRED, TO ABOVE THAT A VERY FEW OF THESE COULD NOW BE RELEASED WITHOUT TOO GREAT RISK, PRIMARILY WITH A VIEW TO TESTING CHINESE REACTIONS. WE ARE ALSO CONTEMPLATING AN ATTEMPT TO NEUTRALIZE SOME OF THE DETAINEES REI EASED BY DISCREET MEASURES WHICH, COUPLED WITH THEIR ..

· EARLY RELEASE, WOULD CAST SUSPICION ON THEIR CONTINUED ADHERENCE ・・ TO THE COMMUNIST CAUSE SEMICOLON BUT OBVIOUSLY THIS REQUIRES CAREFUL THOUGHT. IF SUCCESSFUL, FURTHER RELEASES COULD MORE EASILY BE CONTEMPLATED, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND THE PLOY MIGHT

PROVE COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE, IN SEVERAL WAYS.

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6. A FACTOR IN THESE PROPOSALS IS THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT OVER- -PLAYING RELEASES FOR NO RETURN. WE NEED FIRST TO ESTABLISH ·

WHETHER RELEASING DOES ANY GOOD。

FO PLEASE PASS ROUTINE PEKING AS MYTEL 302

SIR D. TRENCH

[REPEATED AS REQUESTED],

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.O. · F.E.D.

C.0.

H.K.DEPT.

C.O.

CONSULAR DEPT.

U.N.DEPT.

NEWS DEPT.

S.A.D.

F.E. & P.I.

F.0.

DEFENCE DIPT.

P.U.S.D.

I.R.D.

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