TNAG-2701-FCO40-3907-Memoirs-of-Sir-Percy-Cradock--diplomat-and-sinologist-1993 — Page 25

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*ISTRY

1993

REGISTRY

From:

Sir John Coles

INDEX

-A

Action Taken

Date:

CC:

19 August 1993

PS/Mr Goodlad Mr Hum o/r

Miss Everett,

News Dept

Mr Ricketts

Hong Kong Department

JOHN ELLISON

1.

Note

have ciralated a copy of This minute to all members

of the Dept

instructing Hem

19/8

to pars no confidential information to Sir P Crachsch

I have seen Miss Everett's minute of 18 August about the above. I have written to the Cabinet Office to warn them of the contents of paragraph 3 (recording that Sir Percy Cradock had told Mr Ellison of his contacts with the Cabinet Secretary about the last two chapters of his memoirs).

2.

I remain concerned, as I have been for some time, about John Ellison's sources. His recent article about the "deadlines" for the present talks with the Chinese could have been damaging. It is hard to believe that Sir Percy Cradock knew of the contents of a Cabinet Committee paper (paragraph 2 of Miss Everett's minute). But I am afraid that the possibility is strengthening that Ellison is obtaining some of his information from Sir Percy. This underlines the need for anyone who has contact with Sir Percy to be very reticent about what they say. Now that he has taken up a position of opposition to Government policy he is not entitled to the kind of briefing which we would normally have been prepared to give him. I should therefore be grateful if you could ensure that all members of Hong Kong Department are aware that they are not authorised to brief Sir Percy on these matters. In saying that, I am not of course suggesting for one moment that the Department have passed on information to Sir Percy. It is simply that we must all be aware of the dangers of doing so.

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Cradocking