TNAG-2702-FCO40-3908-Memoirs-of-Sir-Percy-Cradock--diplomat-and-sinologist-1993 — Page 152

CONFIDENTIAL

DRAFT LETTER FROM PUS TO SIR ROBIN BUTLER

Sir Robin Butler GCB CVO

Cabinet Office

You asked for our advice on Sir Percy Cradock's letter of

20 July to you.

He is clearly concerned at the prospect that if he

publishes his book he will attract official and public

condemnation. The revised text of the chapters on the

airport negotiations and constitutional development is an improvement on the first version. It goes a good way

towards removing one of our concerns, that revelations

about previous confidential negotiations with the Chinese

will make the latter less willing to negotiate on current

issues. He has also modified (though not eliminated) his

criticism of HMG and the Governor so the danger of the

Chinese concluding that there are divided counsels within

the Government and that this weakness can be exploited is

reduced.

From the point of view of this department, we would therefore think it worthwhile to accept his offer to

engage in a negotiation about the text, during which we

would seek to obtain a few further amendments. If you are

content with this course John Coles could offer to see

Percy Cradock as soon as possible for this purpose (unless

of course you prefer to handle the negotiations yourself).

CONFIDENTIAL