TNAG-0031-FCO40-67-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 49

CONFIDENTIAL

627

CYPHER CAT A

ROUTINE THE HAGUE

TEL NO 406

CONFIDENTIAL

TO FOREIGN OFFICE

4 JULY 1968

16664

YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 358 TO BERNE: BRITISH STAFF IN PEKING

BEARING IN MIND THE HELP WHICH WE WERE ABLE TO OFFER WHEN THE NETHERLANDS CHARGE D'AFFAIRES, MR. JONGEJAN, WAS HELD HOSTAGE IN PEKING IN 1966, I AM SURE THAT THE NETHERLANDS GOVERN- -MENT WILL BE ANXIOUS TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE.

2. JUDGING BY THE DUTCH ATTITUDE IN THAT CASE, THERE MIGHT WELL BE A PREFERENCE FOR SEPERATE PARALLEL APPROACHES RATHER THAN AN OBVIOUSLY CONCERTED APPROACH. AS FIRM SUPPORTERS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW, I WOULD EXPECT THAT THEY WOULD BE ATTRACTED BY A GENERAL PRESENTATION OF THE CASE BASED ON DIPLOMATIC PROPRIETY AND USAGE.

3. BEARING IN MIND THE POSSIBLE EFFECT ON THE POSITION OF THEIR PRESENT CHARGE D'AFFAIRES IN PEKING, THE DUTCH MIGHT BE RELUCTANT TO JOIN IN PUBLICITY. THIS WOULD NOT OF COURSE AFFECT

ANY PUBLICITY WHICH WE OURSELVES CHOSE TO GIVE TO THE PURELY

BRITISH ASPECTS OF THE CASE.

SIR P GARRAN

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

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H.K.D.

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LACT

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NEXT

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609

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RESEARCH DEPT.

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