TNAG-0032-FCO40-68-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 228

CYPHER/CAT-A- AND BY BAG

PRIORITY FOREIGN OFFICE

TELEGRAM NUMBER 1996

CONFIDENTIAL

TO MOSCOW

16 JULY 1968 (F)

-688

CONFIDENTIAL

ADDRESSED TO MOSCOW TELEGRAM NUMBER 1999 OF 16 JULY REPEATED FOR INFORMATION TO PEKING BUCHAREST BUDAPEST PRAGUE SOFIA WARSAW AND

SAVING TO WASHINGTON,

678

YOUR TELEGRAM NO 1117: DIPLOMATIC INITIATIVE.

THE EAST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES MAY WELL CONSULT THE RUSSIANS ABOUT THIS WHEN WE APPROACH THEM, AND IT SEEMS POSSIBLE THAT THEIR WILLINGNESS TO CO-OPERATE MAY BE PREJUDICED IF THE RUSSIANS ARE

IGNORANT OF THIS EXERCISE AND EXCLUDED ENTIRELY FROM IT.

2. IF EASTERN EUROPEAN POSTS ARE INSTRUCTED TO MAKE APPROACHES TO GOVERNMENTS, WOULD YOU SEE THEREFORE ADVANTAGE IN LETTING THE RUSSIANS KNOW VERY INFORMALLY THAT WE ARE ASKING HELP FROM THESE AND OTHER GOVERNMENTS? IF THEY ASKED WHY WE HAVE NOT ACTED SIMILARLY IN MOSCOW YOU COULD PERHAPS SAY THAT WE HAD THOUGHT THAT THEY MIGHT PREFER NOT TO JOIN IN, BECAUSE OF THE SOVIET UNION'S PARTICULAR DIFFICULTIES WITH CHINA, BUT THAT WE WOULD OF COURSE WELCOME ANY SUPPORT WHICH THEY FELT ABLE TO GIVE. SOSFA

SOSTA

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION

F.0. F.E.D.

C.0.

DSAO

NORTHERN DEPT.

P.U.S.D.

I.R.D.

E-W C.D.

CONSULAR DEPT. RESEARCH DEPT.

H.K.D.

PERSONNEL DEPT.

RECEIVEL ARCHIVES NE

17 JULBOO

MLIO 3/2

678 690

CONFIDENTIAL