TNAG-0031-FCO40-67-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 223

CYPHER/CAT A

IMMEDIATE WASHINGTON

TELEGRAM NUMBER 1428

RESTRICTED

TO FOREIGN OFFICE

1 MAY, 1968.

533

RESTRICTED.

ADDRESSED FO TELNO 1428 OF 1/5 REPEATED FOR INFORMATION

TO PEKING AND GOVERNOR HONG KONG.

MY TEL NO 1421 : BRITISH MISSION IN PEKING.

i

ARTICLE APPEARS IN WASHINGTON POST THIS MORNING UNDER A HONG KONG DATELINE. HEADLINE ''PEKING MOVE AGAINST BRITISH HINTS ATTEMPT AT

RANSOM SUGGESTS AN EFFORT BY ALSOP TO BE LESS CATEGORICAL THAN HE MAY AT FIRST HAVE INTENDED. LESS THAN ONE THIRD OF ARTICLE (FULL TEXT BY BAG) RELATES TO MISSION, REMAINDER DEALS WITH INTERNAL CHINESE DEVELOPMENTS AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF CHINESE PUTTING PRESSURE

ON HANOI NOT TO NEGOTIATE.

2. ONE SENTENCE REFLECTS COUNSELLOR'S TALK RECORDED IN MY TEL UNDER

REF. THIS SAYS ''MINOR RELAXATIONS OF THIS SITUATION ARE PROMISED FOR A FEW WEEKS FROM NOW, BUT ONE MUST WAIT TO SEE THE OUTCOME. THERE IS ONLY ONE REFERENCE TO HONG KONG. AFTER MENTIONING REFUSAL

TO GRANT EXIT VISAS ARTICLE SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN SIMULTANEOUS AND OPEN HINTS ABOUT THE NEED FOR SOME SORT OF CONSOLATORY (SIC)

BRITISH MOVE IN THE MATTER OF HONG KONG”’.

3. THE FORM OF THE ARTICLE MAKES IT UNLIKELY THAT THERE WILL BE MUCH FOLLOW UP HERE. I HOPE THIS WILL BE TRUE ELSEWHERE ALSO.

FO PASS PRIORITY PEKING 5 GOVERNOR HONG KONG 34.

SIR P.

DEAN

[REPETITION TO PEKING REFERRED FOR DEPARTMENTAL DECISION,

REPEATED AS REQUESTED TO OTHER POST].

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.O. F.E.D.

AMERICAN DEPT.

ADVANCE COPIES SENT.

NETS DEPT.

C.0. H.K. DEPT.

ERW

NEWS DEPT.

RESTRICTED