TNAG-0206-FCO40-242-Construction-of-a-cross-harbour-tunnel--under-Hong-Kong-harb-1969 — Page 141

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

W(B)L 51-7406

CONFIDENTIAL

the commercial considerations set out in

paragraph (a) above and there is, I think,

reason to believe that the shareholders would

now provide these.

6

Since the time available to us seems to be

so short I wonder whether there is any

justification for delaying further

consideration of our position until the return

of Mr. Whittaker (of ECGD) from Paris, or

indeed for us pursuing the matter there at all

On the information available to us his French

colleagues in COFACE have already made up

their minds. But if you consider that he

should take this up in Paris as planned I

must sound a note of warning.

SRATE COMSQUMERS

It would be

if these exchanges between

COFACE and ECGD became publicly known;∞ ·

they would be open to the construction that

we, having declined to assist, were trying to

frustrate a French deal. It would be even

more unfortunate and embarrassing if these

exchanges, which have so far been restricted

to strictly commercial considerations, were

widened to include discussions of the

political risk and this, I trust, will be

avoided at all costs.

I am copying this letter (with enclosures)

to/Michael Palliser in the Prime į inister's

Office for information-

in the Treasury

Dick Taverne

ما سين