TNAG-0378-FCO40-424-UK-policy-on-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-after-1997-1973 — Page 34

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MIS STORY IS UNDER HAT. CUR AIM IS TO SEE IF WE CAN PRODUCE OMETHING WHICH MIGHT BE ACCEPTABLE TO ALL PARTIES CONCERNED. I JANXIOUS THAT OUR CONSIDERATION OF IT SHOULD BE THOROUGH AND COMPREHENSIVE, SO IT IS NATURALLY TAKING THE. DO THE SPADLARDS CONTINUE TO LOOK FOR PROGRESS ON THESE LINES?

5. IT IS NOT CLEAR TO ME WHY THE SPANIARDO HAVE REVERTED TO THE UNITED NATIONS FORUM OR HOW THEY INTEND TO PROCEED THERE. DO THEY HATEND TO PROMOTE A RESOLUTION AT THE UNITED NATIONS ON THE LINES OF PAST RESOLUTIONS? IF SO, I SHOULD BE SORRY, UNITED KATIOUS RESOLUTIONS CAN ONLLY MAKE THINGS MORE DIFFICULT AND COMPLICATED: THE INTERESTS OF NEITHER SIDE WOULD BE SERVED BY STEPS MICH WOULD MAKE PROGRESS MORE DIFFICULT. THE QUESTION BETWEEN US IS ONE WHICH CAN ONLY BE SOLVED BY DISCUSSING OUR DIFFERENCES, WORKING FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CLIMATE OF OUR

RELATIONS, AND TRYING TO HOVE CLOSER TO EACH OTHER'S POSITION. I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE MUCH TO OFFER EACH OTHER, NOT LEAST IR THE FIELD OF EUROPEAN COOPERATION, AND I DO NOT THINK THAT POLEMICS IN THE UNITED NATIONS CAN HAVE ANY OTHER EFFECT THAN TO HARDEN PUBLIC ATTITUDES OF ALL THE PARTIES CONCERNED, AT A TIME WIEN PROGRESS, IN MY OPINION, DEMANDS THE PATIENT AND CONFIDENTIAL EXPLORATION OF THE POSSIBILITIES OF CHANGE. BUT, OF COURSE, IF THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT HAVE DECIDED TO BREAK OFF OUR TALKS THENE IS NO PURPOSE IN CONTINUING THE LABORIOUS EXERCISE OF COMMENTING ON THEIR PROPOSALS AND SEEKING TO DEVISE PROPOSALS OF OUR OWN, 6. THE TONE OF THE INTERVIEW SHOULD, I CONSIDER, es cue or.

PASSIVE AND BUSINESSLIKE ENQUIRY RATHER THAN OF RECRIMINATION. HAVING SAID SO MUCH, YOUR AIM THERFORE SHOULD BE TO LISTEN RAWIER THAN TO REPLY TO WHATEVER SR LOPEZ RODO MAY SAY, A LITTLE MILD

QUESTIONING OF SPAIN'S POSITION COULD BE JUSTIFIED

IF THE TALK TURNS THAT WAY. FOR INSTANCE, IN THE UNITED NATIONS IP DO"TEXT YOU COULD SUGGEST THAT THE SPANISH PPROPOSITION THAT ARITAIN COULD DICTATE A SOLUTION OVER THE HEADS OF THE CIRCANTARIAMS HOULD NOT DE ACCEPTABLE TO THOSE COURTRIES WHICH ACCEPT THE PRINCIPLE OF SELF DETERMINATION. BUT THERE SHOULD BERO TURCATS OT THE KIND SUGGESTED !!! PARAGRAPH 5 OF YOUR TELHO 334. YOU. GHOULD SIMPLY UNDERTAKE TO REPORT BACK TO ME.

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