PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL
5.
On the other hand, there is no denying that, by March, the kind of money that you offered looked pretty small compared with the sums that were having to be found elsewhere and for which, for example, we were busy bullying the Koreans or the Japanese. And, as always happens, money which is given somewhat late and grudgingly is inevitably less appreciated than what is offered straightaway, up-front.
6.
We did try hard, in earlier discussions, to persuade the MOD that your contribution was a handsome gesture which deserved a much better response from them on the subject of patrol craft. We failed, and I fear that the money that you gave for the Gulf has long since been swallowed up in the Treasury. Despite the efforts you had to go through, I am afraid there is simply no prospect of reopening this argument with the MOD.
7.
I expect you will be tempted to make some play of this with the Secretary of State when you see him. You have by now seen my warning that he is not convinced that the case is strong enough to warrant raising it with the Prime Minister. We shall make the best use we can of the arguments in your Telno 1930 espcially the arguments in paragraphs 5-7. The argument about Chinese reactions (paragraph 8 of the telegram) cuts no ice at all, since it sounds to Ministers like paying out money simply to keep the Chinese sweet.
8. I well understand why you want to have a final attempt at the Secretary of State, but I have to say that I rather doubt whether reference to the Gulf contribution will have any impact. There is a strong feeling in political circles in this country that such contributions are the least that could have been expected from Governments round the world which will have so signally benefited from the efforts we made in the Gulf. Hong Kong always suffers from the fact that it is seen as one of the world's fat cats. Of course, you and I well understand the political realities and the difficulties about extracting money from LEGCO. But, set against the other priorities and concerns here, I frankly doubt whether you will make any headway with your argument.
Yours ever,
A26AAC
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PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL
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R A Burns
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