SECRET
030415 MDHIAN 3712
TIME. THE BEST SOLUTION FOR US WOULD BE TO ANNOUNCE THE AGREEMENT AND RELEASE IT DURING THE DEBATE, AND FOR MY PRESS CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS. IF THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE, EITHER BECAUSE WE CANNOT GET PEKING'S AGREEMENT OR BECAUSE OF PARLIAMENTARY TIMING CONSIDERATIONS AT YOUR END, WE WILL HAVE A VERY AWKWARD DAY. BUT IT WILL THEN BE ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL THAT THE MOU IS RELEASED NO LATER THAN 4 JULY. IF THE CHINESE STILL PREVARICATE FOR ANY REASON, THEY MUST BE TOLD THAT THERE CAN BE NO QUESTION OF GOING BACK ON THE DATE LU PING HAS PROVISIONALLY AGREED.
4. IF THERE WERE TO BE ANY SLIPPAGE BEYOND 4 JULY, INSTEAD OF REAPING THE POLITICAL BENEFITS OF A POSITIVE ANNOUNCEMENT, WE WOULD FACE ACCUSATIONS OF PREVARICATION AND DISSIMULATION. WE COULD ALSO HAVE SERIOUS COMMERCIAL PROBLEMS ON THE STOCK MARKET.
WILSON
YYYY
ΜΑΙΝ
PADS SECRET
LIMITED
HKD
HD/PUSD
HD/FED
HD/NEWS D
31
DISTRIBUTION
40
HD/PLANNERS
PS
PS/LORD CAITHNESS
PS/PUS
SIR J COLES
MR BURNS
ADDITIONAL
9
SIR P CRADOCK (NO 10) PS/NO.10
MS BROOKS LEGAL ADVISERS MR J P MCINTYRE HM TRESY MR APPLEYARD CABINET OFFICE
MR S WIGHTMAN CABINET OFFICE
MR GOWAN CABINET OFFICE MR A CHARLTON CABINET OFFICE MR WYE RAD
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