CONFIDENTIAL
(2) Parseraph 5
Xr. Cradock's "now or never" argument here is
misconceivedi
(1) If we are indeed going to interfere with the course of
Justice, the difference is whether we are seen to be doing so
under pressure or apparently of our own volition.
(11) If we could hold out for nine months, until
+L
extember,
1969, ten of the eleven remaining avws workern would have served
their tize and interference with the course of justice would
not be necessary on the souls at present envisaged by Mr. Cradock,
(0) Faragraph 5
We cannot avause that the line of action we favour at
present is necessarily going to keep Yr. Grey in detention for
another two years. This is certainly a possibility;
but it is
only the worst of a number of possible cases. Nor ara we too
concerned by the roapect of two aure yeara of really bad Sino/
British relations”. la
resent circumstances relations with
China can probably only take the form of "really bad" or "bad".
hether they revert to the less unpleasant of the two will depend
largely on the evolution of internal events la China and on
Chinase intentions towards Xong Kong. Yu can do a limited
r-age of tuin a to encourse the ulucue in the belief that we
ourselves favour a retura to more normal relations wat will de
nothing to lapelo this trend. This indeed we are already doing.
The position of the other British subjects in trouble in China
will depend on this general trent as well as on the progress of
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