TNAG-2702-FCO40-3908-Memoirs-of-Sir-Percy-Cradock--diplomat-and-sinologist-1993 — Page 104

REC

010/4

SECRET

... Mr Wyan

مى

201

(Our only copy)

SECRET

FM HONG KONG

TO IMMEDIATE FCO

TELNO 1501

OF 220635Z SEPTEMBER 93

Zahalles

ساعد

24/9

Cradock B&

071455

MDHIAN 6190

23/9

M Mári

3a

STRICTLY PERSONAL FOR HUM, AUSS.

FROM: DINHAM, GH.

YOUR TELNO 829: SIR P. CRADOCK'S MEMOIRS.

1.

THE GOVERNOR WAS GRATEFUL FOR TUR AND LOOKS FORWARD TO HEARING FURTHER FROM SIR JOHN COLES FOLLOWING HIS MEETING WITH SIR P.

CRADOCK.

2.

SIR P. CRADOCK'S REPORTED COMMENT IN YOUR PARA 2 THAT HE HAD ATTEMPTED TO DISSUADE DOBBIE FROM PUBLISHING THE STORY SEEMS DISINGENUOUS IN THE LIGHT OF A CONVERSATION WE HAD YESTERDAY WITH DANNY GITTINGS OF THE SUNDAY MORNING POST (SMP). GITTINGS TOLD US THAT THE POST HAD RUN ITS STORY FOLLOWING AN APPROACH MADE TO IT BY SIR PERCY HIMSELF IN LONDON. SIR PERCY APPARENTLY SAID HE HAD BEEN TOLD BY THE FCO THAT A COPY OF THE MANUSCRIPT OF HIS MEMOIRS HAD BEEN REFERRED TO GOVERNMENT HOUSE. SIR PERCY ADDED THAT AS A RESULT HE HAD BEEN PRESSED TO DELETE PASSAGES WHICH COULD BE QUOTE EMBARRASSING TO THE GOVERNOR UNQUOTE. GITTINGS SAID THAT A SOURCE IN WHITEHALL CHE REFUSED TO BE DRAWN ON WHETHER THIS WAS FCO OR CABINET OFFICE) HAD INDEPENDENTLY CONFIRMED THIS STORY TO THE SMP.

3. WE MADE CLEAR AGAIN TO GITTINGS THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD NOT READ

SIR PERCY'S MEMOIRS, NOR HAD HE ASKED FOR ANY DELETIONS TO BE

TEXT.

PATTEN

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