TNAG-2702-FCO40-3908-Memoirs-of-Sir-Percy-Cradock--diplomat-and-sinologist-1993 — Page 110

SECRET

FM FCO

TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 829

OF 201731Z SEP 93

SECRET

нив 01014

27 SEP 1993

th

35

064471

MDHOAN 8324

1 21/9

Myris

pa

STRICTLY PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR FROM HUM, AUSS

YOUR TELNO 1488 SIR P CRADOCK'S MEMOIRS

(34)

1. YOU WILL HAVE SEEN THAT THE MAIL ON SUNDAY OF 19 SEPTEMBER CARRIED A FURTHER MISLEADING ARTICLE, BY ITS POLITICAL EDITOR PETER DOBBIE, ON SIR P CRADOCK'S MEMOIRS. WE UNDERSTAND THAT HKGO HAVE FAXED THE ARTICLE TO YOU, TOGETHER WITH ONE IN TODAY'S DAILY EXPRESS.

2. AS YOU ARE AWARE (TELECON MORGAN/LLEWELLYN OF 18 SEPTEMBER) SIR P CRADOCK RANG SIR J COLES ON 17 SEPTEMBER TO WARN HIM THAT DOBBIE WAS INTENDING TO PUBLISH THIS STORY. SIR P CRADOCK SAID HE HAD ATTEMPTED TO DISSUADE DOBBIE FROM PUBLISHING ON THE GROUNDS THAT IT WOULD APPEAR "THAT HE (CRADOCK) WAS PUTTING PRESSURE ON HMG TO PERMIT PUBLICATION". HE HAD TELEPHONED TO GIVE US AN OPPORTUNITY, IF WE CHOSE, OF BRINGING PRESSURE TO BEAR ON THE MAIL ON SUNDAY NOT TO WRITE THE ARTICLE. SIR J COLES SUBSEQUENTLY AGREED WITH THE CABINET SECRETARY THAT SUCH ACTION WAS NOT AN OPTION, BUT THAT THE CABINET OFFICE PRESS OFFICE AND FCO NEWS DEPARTMENT WOULD, IF ASKED TO COMMENT DURING THE WEEKEND, SAY THAT THE MANUSCRIPT OF THE MEMOIRS HAD BEEN SUBMITTED IN THE USUAL WAY AND APPROVAL OF PUBLICATION HAD BEEN GIVEN. ENQUIRIES AS TO WHETHER AMENDMENTS HAD BEEN MADE AND SIMILAR QUESTIONS WOULD BE REFERRED TO SIR P CRADOCK HIMSELF. NO 10 PRESS OFFICE WERE ALSO INFORMED.

3.

IN THE EVENT DOBBIE DID NOT CONTACT NEWS DEPARTMENT. TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE HE SPOKE TO NO-ONE IN THE OFFICE BEFORE WRITING THE STORY. NOR HAVE WE HAD ANY PRESS ENQUIRIES TODAY (ALTHOUGH TODAY'S DAILY EXPRESS PIECE ECHOED THE DRIFT OF THE MAIL ARTICLE, AND CONTAINED SOME FURTHER DISINGENUOUS COMMENT FROM SIR P CRADOCK). THE ASSISTANT HEAD OF NEWS DEPARTMENT WILL DRAW ON THE LINE IN PARA 2 ABOVE IN TODAY'S BACKGROUND BRIEFING SESSION WITH THE PRESS. HE WILL ALSO RUBBISH THE OTHER FANCIFUL ALLEGATIONS IN DOBBIE'S ARTICLE: SPECIFICALLY (I) THAT THE AMENDMENTS WERE REQUESTED BECAUSE THEY MIGHT "EMBARRASS" THE PRIME MINISTER OR YOURSELF, (II) THAT FCO "MANDARINS ARE UNHAPPY