TNAG-0034-FCO40-70-Relations-with-China-1968 — Page 43

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(E) ASSUMING CONTACT IS WELL-INFORMED (SEE PARAGRAPH 3 BELOW) IT

SEEMS CLEAR ALSO THAT THERE IS NOTHING TO BE GAINED BY A UNILATERAL

RELEASE OF HSUEH. WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT GREY WILL COME OUT ONLY

WHEN THE CHINESE ARE READY TO RELEASE HIM AND THAT HSUEH IS NOT

A REAL FACTOR IN THE SITUATION. IF WE NOW RELEASE HSUEH WE MAY

EVEN EMBARRASS THE MODERATE CHINESE WITH THEIR OWN PEOPLE, OR

THEY MAY BECOME IRRITATED AT HAVING THEIR ADVICE IGNORED AND FEEL THAT WE

WERE TRYING TO FORCE THEIR HANDS AFTER THEY HAD EXPLAINED, THEIR

}

POSITION.

2. I HAVE INSTRUCTED CATER THAT, WHEN HE SEES CONTACT AGAIN TODAY,

HE SHOULD CONFIRM THAT WE HAVE NOTHING TO ADD TO PARAGRAPH 5 OF

MY TELEGRAM 2030 AND THAT HE SHOULD URGE CONTACT TO EMPHASISE AS

MUCH AS HE CAN THE INTEREST WHICH THE PEKING GOVERNMENT ITSELF

HAS IN RELEASING GREY FAIRLY SOON.

3. AS TO THE WORTH OF THIS CONTACT, HE HAS IN GENERAL PROVED

HIMSELF TO BE RELIABLE IN HIS FORECASTS AND A USEFUL SOURCE OF

COMMENT, BUT HE IS SO DEVIOUS THAT HE IS A VERY DIFFICULT INTER-

MEDIARY TO DEAL WITH. NEVERTHELESS, AS A BROKER BETWEEN US AND THE

CHINESE I BELIEVE HE IS WELL INTENTIONED AND IS PROBABLY AS

#1

USEFUL A MAN AS WE WILL FIND.

FO PLEASE PASS PRIORITY PEKING.

SIR D. TRENCH

REPEATED AS REQUESTED_

COPIES SENT TO CABINET OFFICE (FOR SIR B. TREND) AND TO SECRETARY J.I.C./

FILES

C.0. H.K. DEPARTMENT.

P.A.D.

P.S. TO LORD SHEPHERD

MR. MASON

MR. ROB.

F.O. F.E.D.

SIR D. ALLEN

P.U.S.D.

PRIVATE SECRETARY.

DIS. M.O.D.

XXXXX

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