TNAG-2768-FCO40-3985-Hong-Kong-and-the-media-interviews--press-briefings-and-the--1993 — Page 37

the issue boils down to whether critical remarks in the text on a past

episode and its consequences, watered down as a result of discussions

with the Department, can really damage British negotiating prospects

in the current talks.

I confess I found our talk disappointing. I have made

considerable efforts, carried out two revisions of the text and met

three quarters of your detailed requests. I had the impression we

were nearly there. You are now finding new grounds for objection

outside the two offending chapters and a new (Hong Kong) round of

vetting is threatened. I am sure you will try to expedite matters. But

I must put the text to the publishers next week. I shall try to keep

the issue open for a week or two. But the question I shall soon face

is whether I accept that the text of the book next spring is to be

that agreed with the Government, on terms still not plain to me, or

whether I conclude I am probably never going to be able to satisfy you

and that the final text would be better decided simply in the light

of what I think fair and accurate.

I am sending a copy of this letter to David Gillmore.

Sir Robin Butler G.C.B. C.V.O.

Cabinet Office

70 Whitehall

London SW1 2AS