TOOK
I TOOK A NOTE OF ALL THESE QUESTIONS AND SAID THAT I WOULD OK INTO THE MATTER AND WRITE TO SENGOKU IN DUE COURSE WITH ATEVER ANSWERS WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE. HE AND HIS GROUP SEEMED LL ENOUGH PLEASED WITH "THIS. HE ACCEPTED MY DESCRIPTION OF OUR FICIAL POSITION, AND AGREED WITH ME THAT ANY FINAL DECISION ON
HIS MATTER WAS ENTIRELY IN THE HANDS OF THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT.
E SAID HE UNDERSTOOD WHY WE MAY NOT WISH TO RELEASE PAPERS WHICH
ULD STILL BE SENSITIVE BUT HOPED THAT WE COULD HELP THEM WITH
IFORMATION.
OMMENT
D. I DO NOT IMAGINE THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT WILL EASILY ONTEMPLATE OPENING A CRACK IN THIS DOOR AS IT COULD COST THEM
ILLIONS. HOWEVER IT REMAINS A MATTER OF PUBLIC CONCERN IN HONG ONG, WHERE BAD MEMORIES OF THE OCCUPATION STILL LINGER. AS A
VERNMENT I AM SURE WE WOULD NOT WISH TO APPEAR UNSYMPATHETIC.
VEN IF THERE IS NO QUESTION OF US SEEKING TO TAKE ACTION
URSELVES. IT WOULD HOWEVER BE IRRESPONSIBLE TO GET PEOPLE'S
OPES UP WHEN THERE IS NO REALISTIC PROSPECT OF THEM BEING
ULFILLED.
. I WILL NOW UNDERTAKE SOME FURTHER RESEARCH TO SEE WHETHER WE
FACT HAVE ANY ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS ABOVE. I SHOULD OF
OURSE BE VERY GRATEFUL IF RESEARCH DEPARTMENT WERE ABLE TO
ONTRIBUTE ANY OF THE ANSWERS. BUT I SHOULD ALSO BE GRATEFUL FOR JIDANCE ON HANDLING THIS. I MADE IT CLEAR TO SENGOKU I WAS NABLE TO MAKE ANY PROMISES ABOUT THE DEGREE TO WHICH WE MIGHT
ELP.
S. I WAS TELEPHONED THIS MORNING BY KODAMA OF THE JAPANESE ONSULATE TO ASK ABOUT THE MEETING WITH SENGOKU. THEY ARE BVIOUSLY A LITTLE NERVOUS ABOUT THE SUBJECT: KODAMA SAID SENGOKU
AS BOUND TO RAISE IT IN THE DIET. I BRIEFED KODAMA ON THE KCHANGE, AND UNDERTOOK TO LET HIM HAVE A COPY OF ANY REPLY WHICH
EVENTUALLY SENT TO SENGOKU.
IGNED: S E BRADLEY.
YYYY
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CONFIDENTIAL
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