TNAG-2701-FCO40-3907-Memoirs-of-Sir-Percy-Cradock--diplomat-and-sinologist-1993 — Page 4

1 October 1993

Sir Robin Butler GCB CVO Cabinet Office

My dear Robin,

CONFIDENTIAL

Foreign & Commonwealth- Office

London SW1A 2AH

Sir David Gillmore KCMG

The Permanent Under Secretary of State

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Mr Morris,

HK) 1/10

Thank

you

saxy-hald

PS/PUS

SIR P CRADOCK'S MEMOIRS

1. I thought you might like to have our views on the draft prefatory chapter enclosed with Sir P Cradock's undated letter to you (in response to yours of 17 September).

2. The text gives us no problems under the Radcliffe criteria. It depicts Sino-British relations from 1793 to 1962 in terms of almost inevitable confrontation between mutually uncomprehending powers, rather than attempting to depict the relationship in any more positive light. But that is a justifiable interpretation of the relationship, and as such breaks no new or difficult ground.

By

3. As he says, his second point could be more tricky. December our talks with China are almost certain to have reached a conclusion, one way or another. We should need to look very carefully at any textual changes Sir Percy made to reflect the outcome. I enclose a draft reply, which reserves our position on the second point.

ein,

Yaus,

fair

David Gillmore

CONFIDENTIAL