CONFIDENTIAL
F.O. TELEGRAM NO. 1141 TO PEKING
NEW PROPOSAL IN RESERVE IF ARRANGEMENTS FOR VISITS RUN INTO DIFFICULTIES. ON BALANCE, HOWEVER, WE THINK THERE IS ADVANTAGE IN MAKING THE SUGGESTION INFORMALLY TO THE CHINESE NOW, WITHOUT COMMITMENT IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, IF BY ANY CHANCE THEY WERE NOW GENUINELY ANXIOUS TO DISEMBARRASS THEMSELVES OF GREY, THEY COULD BEGIN CONSIDERING THE TERMS OF A BARGAIN WITHOUT WASTING TIME CAVILLING OVER THE DETAILS OF VISITS AND COMFORTS. PROVIDED THEREFORE THAT THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG CONFIRMS THAT HE HAS NO OBJECTION YOU SHOULD, AS PROPOSED IN YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 375, SUGGEST ON A PERSONAL BASIS AT YOUR MEETING THAT THE BEST ULTIMATE SOLUTION WOULD BE TO EXCHANGE GREY FOR HSUEN PING. YOU MIGHT INCLUDE LO YU-HO IN THE BARGAIN IF THE CHINESE SHOWED ANY SIGNS OF RISING TO THE FLY,
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F.O. F.E.D.
C.O. H.K.D.
CONFIDENTIAL
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