TNAG-0032-FCO40-68-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 198

SECRET

HONG KONG TELEGRAM NO.928 TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

-3-

2. AS REGARDS TENSION ON THE BORDER, CONCESSIONS BY US IN HONG

KONG ARE NOT REALLY RELEVANT. THE LOCAL VILLAGERS ARE RABID

MILITANTS AND THE KEY FACTOR HERE IS THE CONTROL EXERCISED OVER

THEM BY THE BORDER AUTHORITIES.

6. I THINK WE SHOULD BE CAREFUL OF THE VIEW THAT WE SHOULD HELP THE

CHINESE SAVE FACE, UNTIL THE ROTIVES BEHIND THE HINTS WE HAVE

RECEIVED ARE CLEAKER. FOR THE PRESENT I THINK WE SHOULD LEAVE IT TO

THEM TO SAVE WHAT FACE THEY CAN FROM SUCH CONCESSIONS AS WE ARE

PREPARED TO MAKE.

7. I AGREE OF COURSE THAT ON OCCASIONS WE HAVE GAINED SOMETHING

CONCRETE FROM PARTICULAR CONCESSIONS, AT A PRICE. ON THE OTHER HAND,

THERE HAVE BEEN VERY MANY MORE OCCASIONS DURING THE LAST YEAR WHEN

WE HAVE, BY ADOPTING REASONABLE BUT FIRA ATTITUDES, AND MAKING NO

UNACCEPTABLE CONCESSIONS, INDUCED THE COMMUNISTS TO BACK-TRACK.

3. FINALLY, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE IN KIND BETWEEN MINOR

CONCESSIONS MADE WITH SPECIFIC AND LIMITED TACTICAL AIMS, WHICH WE

CONSTANTLY SEARCH FOR CAND HAVE MADE) AND WIDER CONCESSIONS MADE IN

THE GENERAL HOPE OF IMPROVED RELATIONS, I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THE

VIME FOR LATTER HAS YET COME. FOR THE PRESENT, WE SHOULD LEAVE IT

TO THE CHINESE TO COME TO US IN REASONABLY SPECIFIC TERMS AND PROPOSE

WHATEVER IT IS THEY WANT. WHEN WE KNOW THIS, WE MIGHT FIND OURSELVES

ABLE TO MEET THEN PARTIALLY AT LEAST. THIS IS INEVITABLY A DELICATE ·

BUSINESS, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT ALSO TO PLAY THINGS THE CHINESE WAY

AND NOT ALTOGETHER IN OURS.

CO PLEASE PASS PRIORITY PEKING.

SIR D. TRENCH

[REPETITION TO PEKING REFERRED FOR

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION DEPARTMENTAL DECISION]

F.O. F.E.D.

C.O. HONG KONG DEPT.

F.O. NEWS DEPT.

CONSULAR DEPT.

I.P.D.

I.R.D.

DEFENCE DEPT.

C.O. NEWS DEPT.

DEFENCE DEPT. DIS MOD

SECRET