TNAG-2702-FCO40-3908-Memoirs-of-Sir-Percy-Cradock--diplomat-and-sinologist-1993 — Page 249

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to be purist, it would be possible to object to his attribution to individuals of views expressed during confidential ExCo discussions. But I see no value in nit-picking in this way about events almost a decade ago.

5.

The political difficulty arises in the closing chapters of the book, where Sir P Cradock deals with issues of Hong Kong policy which are still the subject of negotiation with the Chinese Government, and are matters of public controversy (particularly the whole issue of political development, and the Airport). It is not so much a question of revelation of specific pieces of information

(although there are one or two cases where I believe Sir P Cradock oversteps the mark here), but rather that his account of his stewardship as a senior public servant in a highly sensitive position merges into open criticism of current government policy. I believe that, taken as a whole, the effect of the closing chapters of his book could be injurious to our dealings with China, particularly over the issues noted above. I think a case could also be made that they would tend to be destructive of confidential relationships among those who are still in public service. Publication would certainly fuel press speculation that there is a cadre of FCO officials who were closely associated with Sir P Cradock's approach in the past, and who by implication therefore be less than wholly supportive of present government policy. (He names a number of these officials earlier in the book, including Messrs Galsworthy, Hum and Ehrman and quotes the Times' description of them from 1984 as "Cradock's People"). But in dealing with Sir P Cradock, I think we should put the emphasis on the damage that could be done to continuing negotiations with China.

6.

I propose that we offer advice to the Cabinet Secretary on the following lines:

- We do not believe that the manuscript reveals anything

that contravenes the requirements of national security.

- We do, however, believe that the closing chapters of the manuscript, which comment on issues which remain under discussion with China and are matters of public controversy, could be injurious to our relations with China particularly given the senior and sensitive position occupied by Sir P Cradock until April 1992.

Sir P Cradock should therefore be asked either to delay publication of his book until these matters are no longer of operational significance (in practice probably for some two to three years); or to remove the chapters dealing with issues which are still topical (ie from page 198 to page 219 in the attached manuscript).

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