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thought that Percy Cradock had moved from being a critic on the sidelines to striving actively to scupper what we were trying to achieve. The Governor thought that Percy Cradock
should at least be asked not to go to China; and be told that if he did so, we should be ready to make clear that we had asked him not to go. The Governor also considered that it would be better not to brief him, so that we could confirm as much later if necessary.
4. After discussion with Mr Goodlad, John spoke to Percy Cradock today. Percy said that he would be arriving in Hong Kong on 23 May, going to Shanghai on 25 May, Peking on 27 May and returning to London on 30 May. The purpose of the visit was partly (as we knew) Kleinwort Benson business, and partly private. Jiang Enzhu had offered to see him on 27 May and to give him dinner that night. Percy volunteered that he would be very careful in anything he said, and was inclined to say only that he was delighted that the two sides were back in confidential negotiations; that he hoped that they would succeed; and that this would require compromise on both sides.
5.
John told him that we were concerned about the impact of a visit by him to Peking, which would take place just after the third round of talks. Our preference was that he should not visit Peking. Percy noted this and said he would reflect, but his first reaction was not to change his plans. John continued that if Percy decided to go ahead with the Peking visit, he should make clear to the Chinese and to the media that he was not going as an emissary from HMG, that he carried no message from HMG and that he was
John added that we travelling as a private individual. would also explain to the Chinese that his status was entirely private. If necessary, we would say the same thing to the media.
6. Percy was inclined to make these points only if asked. John encouraged him to volunteer them both to the Chinese and to the media. In response to Percy's questions on the present situation, John simply said that we had had two rounds of talks. They had begun calmly. But it was too early to say whether we could get into a serious negotiation.
7. John was left with the strong impression that Percy will maintain his plan to go to Peking. We leave it to your discretion to decide the extent of your own contact with Percy while he is in Peking. Given the Governor's sensitivities about briefing, I think it would be prudent to say no more in substance to Percy than the line taken by John. I should be grateful if you could also find a
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