TNAG-0035-FCO40-71-Relations-with-Macao-1968 — Page 170

CONFIDENTIAL

4/22

Cypher/Cat A

PRIORITY LISBON TO FOREIGN OFFICE

Telno 27 17 January, 1967

CONFIDENTIAL

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No. 27 of

17 January

Repeated for information to: Hong Kong

Peking Washington

Peking telegram No. 63 to Foreign Office: Macao.

The Portuguese Press has hitherto remained almost totally silent on the subject of the dispute with the Chinese. A despatch in today's papers however reads like an attempt to prepare the public for the worst. 2. There would be grave resentment here if we were to draw distinctions between refugees on the grounds of racial origin. Possession of a Portuguese passport or citizenship papers would seem to be the test.

3. Although no request has yet been received in regard to military personnel I hope that consideration will be given to accepting Portuguese soldiers without their arms, if the need arises and there is no other avenue of escape (it seems most unlikely that the Portuguese Government would order any form of military resistance).

Foreign Office please pass Priority Hong Kong and routine Peking and Washington as my 1, 1, and 5 respectively.

Sir A. Lambert Sent 1120Z

Recd 11552

[Repeated as requested]

DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION F.O. F.E.D.

Central Dept

J.I.R.D.

C.O. D.T.D.

F.E. & P.D.

DIS MOD

17 January, 1967

17 January, 1967

See (27)

sent to Hong

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CONFIDENTIAL

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