TNAG-0444-FCO40-509-Proposed-visit-of-Harold-Wilson--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Hong--1974 — Page 19

PRIME MINISTER

Mi. Tick (H)

CORMIER HAL

RECEIVED IN

REGISTRY No. 50

- 1 APR 1974

fer. 5/5u8/1

Dear Richard

China

14/19/3

1.E

10 Downing Street Whitehall

18 March 1974

N. Youα. ins wigkram 17

I shall dratia lavic to Sir John Addis to wrap everything wo.

RiEr Rin. Erens

You told me recently that the Chinese Ambassador

had informed the Department of a meeting with Mr. Wilson not long before the General Election at which he had conveyed an invitation from his Government for

Mr. Wilson to visit China. According to the Ambassador's account, Mr. Wilson had accepted the Chinese invitation.

The Prime Minister tells me that, although the Ambassador did speak as reported, he had regarded the invitation as a polite gesture: he therefore avoided making any commitment in his reply.

No doubt you will let me know if anything significant is said by the Chinese on this subject, either by their Ambassador here or to our own Embassy in Peking. In present circumstances I see no prospect that the Prime Minister will wish to pay an official visit to China, for some considerable time.

че

1973

Yours ever

Tom Bridger

Leiter To Si John

Addis.

R.E.

R. N. Dales, Esq.,

Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

CONMDE

2913.