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Meanwhile both sides have accused each other of provoca-
tions along their common border. Chinese leaders have repeated
their threats of the possibility of further "punitive action" against Vietnam (although there are no obvious signs of preparations for this); while the Vietnamese have maintained their
state of national mobilisation and continued to reinforce their
positions along the border. The conflict of interest between
China and Vietnam is a deep-seated and bitter one, and a
resolution of their differences in the near future is very unlikely
British Embassy in Peking: Accommodation
12.
The workload on the Embassy in Peking has increased
greatly in recent months, particularly, but not exclusively, on
the Commercial side.
We have been unable to increase the
staff as we should wish, as there is no available office space
(or indeed residential accommodation) in which to put them. We are entirely dependent on the Chinese to provide this, and so far they have not been very helpful. We have still received
no formal response to plans submitted last year for additional office accommodation; and the Chinese have given the impression that building work may not proceed swiftly, even when the plans have been approved and technical details worked out. The problem
has been raised with Assistant Foreign Minister Song Zhiguang in
Peking, and on several occasions by the Permanent Under Secretary
and Mr Cortazzi with Mr Ke, who has agreed to take the matter up with the Chinese authorities. There are many competing demands
at present for building work in Peking, and unless political pressu is maintained, we are unlikely to get early satisfaction on Our requirements to enable us to be sure that visiting businessmen
are given the attention they expect.
CONFIDENTIAL
/13.
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