Mr Stewart, HK&GD
Stewart,
Reference
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Mr Cortazzi
Mr Whyte, News Dept Mr Duff, WTAD
REUTERS AND BERMUDA
Sir P Ramsbotham telephoned me at 1.15 pm this afternoon to say that the following report had been prominently displayed this morning on the front page of the local newspaper: "Reuters News Agency yesterday said that it did not accept that the British Government's allegations that it misreported the statement by British Foreign Secretary David Owen in the House of Commons on Monday. A Reuters spokesman in London said their story was based on an official FCO statement. The Reuters spokesman added that the report was in fact accurate and the Agency is planning formally toprotest to the Bermuda Government and ask them to rebut the accusation". I said my impression was that the Reuter statement, if not actually wrong, was so telescoped as to be misleading. The Governor asked that if possible the FCO spokesman should make an on-the-record statement in this sense and that the text should be sent to him by flash telegram.
2. After consulting Mr Whyte, who had independently just been tackled by Reuters, and informing you and Mr Duff I telegraphed to Hamilton (FCO telegram No Personal 41) the text of an on-the-record statement that Mr Whyte had just given to Reuters. After despatching the telegram I telephoned the Governor at 3 pm and, at his request. dictated the text of the statement to his secretary. Sir Peter said he thought that it would be helpful for use by Ministers in the debate then under way in the House of Assembly.
9 December 1977
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R J Stratton
HKG 3801
12 DEC 1977
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INDEX
No
NO. 51
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