SECRET
ID
NEGOTIATION ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE COLONY WHICH WE WISH TO
AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. ON THE OTHER HAND IF WE ACT NOW WE CAN THE
OUR ACTION TO THE QUESTION OF THE LEASES WHICH OBVIOUSLY NEEDS TO
BE TACKLED RELATIVELY SOON.
5. INCIDENTALLY THE SITUATION RESULTING FROM THE COMBINATION OF CLAUSES 2 AND 3 DESCRIBED ABOVE WOULD BE MUCH EASIER TO DEFEND TO
CRITICS WHO COMPLAINED THAT WE HAD NOT MATERIALLY CHANGED THE
SITUATION AND THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF SUCH CRITICS HERE.
-
6. YOUR PARA.4. TO FIND WORDING FOR CLAUSE 3 WHICH AVOIDS
REFERRING DIRECTLY TO CONTINUING BRITISH ADMINISTRATION IS A PROBLEM. WE COULD STICK TO THE EXISTING WORDING ON THE GROUNDS THAT SELF-EVIDENTLY THE GOVERNOR MUST HAVE POWER TO EXERCISE AUTHORITY SO LONG AS BRITAIN ADMINISTERS THE NEW TERRITORIES, AND THE CHINESE MIGHT FIND THIS EASIER TO ACCEPT THAN THE SAME PHRASE APPLIED TO THE LEASES SINCE THE FORMER WOULD NOT CONTRADICT DENG'S
SCENARIO WHEREAS THE LATTER WOULD. HOWEVER SINCE THERE IS AN CEVIOUS RISK THAT IT COULD PROVOKE DISCUSSION OR SUSPICION WE ARE NOW WORKING ON A FORM OF WORDS WHICH WOULD PUT TOGETHER THE
ESSENTIAL ITEMS IN CLAUSES 3 AND 4 BUT AVOID WORDS WHICH MIGHT -OFFEND, WE WILL TELEGRAPH OUR SUGGESTIONS SOON.
7. IT IS BY NO MEANS CERTAIN THAT THE CHINESE BELIEVE THE INITIATIVE
LIES WITH THEM. WE DELIBERATELY MADE IT CLEAR THAT WE WERE
INFORMING THEM ABOUT WHAT WE PROPOSED TO DO RATHER THAN INVITING
A DISCUSSION. I ALSO TOLD HUANG HUA THAT WE WOULD BE INT TOUCH
AGAIN BEFORE TAKING ACTION. UNLESS THEY HAVE SUCH SERIOUS
OBJECTIONS TO OUR WHOLE APPROACH THAT THEY WISH TO HEAD US OFF
FROM EVEN EXPLAINING IN DETAIL WHAT THEY ARE - IN WHICH CASE WE
CAN EXPECT A REACTION FAIRLY SOON THEY MAY WELL BE RESERVING
JUDGEMENT UNTIL WE HAVE EXPLAINED OUR PROPOSAL IN DETAIL.
8. M.I.F.T.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
ARGO
LEGAL ADVISERS
FRO
کنم
AS/LORD GORONWY ROBERTS
Ps/pus
SIE A DUFF
تمام اسام
CORTAZZI
MR MURRAY
وو
SECRET
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.