5. OPTION (B) PRESENTS THE DIFFICULTIES REFERRED TO IN PARA 9 OF MY TUR. IT WOULD DRAG ON UNACCEPTABLY UNLESS WE COULD BE SURE OF STICKING TO THE TWO WEEK PERIOD.
6. OPTION (C) DOES NOT COMMEND INSELF, EXCEPT TO THE CHINESE.
7. OPTION (D) HAS THE MERIT OF BUILDING ON, AND ADAPTING AS WE GO ALONG, THE PROCESS ALREADY FRUITFULLY BEGUN. WE WOULD OF COURSE HOWEVER HAVE TO MOVE SMARTLY TO GET IN THE NECESSARY CONTACTS AND BRIEFINGS BEFORE PUBLICATION OF THE GREEN PAPER. THIS SHOULD BE POSSIBLE TO CONTRIVE. IN THIS CONTEXT, I CAN CONFIRM THAT SIR E YOUDE WAS STRONGLY OF THE VIEW THAT IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO ENGINEER A MEETING BETWEEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND WU DURING THE LATTER'S VISIT TO EUROPE .E. BEFORE THE PUBLICATION OF THE GREEN PAPER. HE HAD HOPED THAT HIS OWN PROPOSED VISIT TO PEKING IN MARCH COULD BE USEFUL AS A PRECURSOR OF FOLLOW-UP TO THIS MEETING. THE PROGRAMME OF POSSIBLE CONTACTS WILL NOW HAVE TO BE CAREFULLY RECONSIDERED FOLLOWING SIR E YOUDE 'S DEATH.
8. AT PRESENT I INCLINE TO OPTION (D). IT WILL OF COURSE BE NECESSARY TO CONSULT EXCO, WHO WILL HAVE STRONG VIEWS (I SUSPECT THAT EVEN GETTING THEM TO OPTION (D) WILL REQUIRE CONSIDERABLE PERSUASTION). I WOULD LIKE TO DO THIS EARLY IN THE NEW YEAR, AFTER YOU AND MINISTERS HAVE CONSIDERED THE ISSUES.
AKERS-JONES
YYYY
HMLNAN 6268
LIMITED
HKO
FED Ps PS/MR RENTON Ps / Pus
MA GILLMORE Mn Wilson
-2-
CEORET
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