TNAG-2981-FCO40-1473-Guangdong-nuclear-power-station-project-1982 — Page 184

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CONFIDENTIAL

FM FCO 211116Z APR 32

TC PRIORITY PEKING

TELNO 172 OF 21 APR

AND TO BTC HONG KONG

FOLLOWING TELEGRAM NOW REPEATED TO YOU AT REQUEST OF DEPT

WAS RECEIVED FROM PARIS TELNO INDUS 11 OF 15 APR

AND TO PRIORITY FCO

INFO ROUTINE WASHINGTON.

(WP)

YOUR TEL:0 INDUS 31: GUANGDONG NUCLEAR POWER PROJECT

1. I SEE NO REASON, AT PRESENT, FOR THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT TO PE TOLD OF OUR APPROACHES TO THE AMERICANS, THEY ASE ALREADY AWARE THAT THIS IS AN OPTION FOR US. HOWEVER, WE MIGHT WISH TO BE MORE OPEN WITH THE FRENCH I FUTURE IF CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE.

2. IS THERE ANY CHANCE OF AN EARLY DEFINITIVE PEPLY FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT ABOUT THE EXPORT OF AMERICAN PVR TECHNOLOGY? THIS WOULD MAKE IT EASIER TO DECIDE HOW BEST TO HANDLE THE FRENCH AND WOULD REDUCE THE RISK OF FALLING BETWEEN TWO STOOLS.

3. I CAN SEE THAT IT MIGHT BE USEFUL TO PROBE FRENCH THINKING ON THE LINES DESCRITED IN YOUR TUR, BUT THE IDEA OF A FORMAL

EETING IN LONDON PRESENTS DIFFICULTIES. I DO NOT FULLY UNDERSTAND HY IT IS ESSENTIAL TO REET THE FRENCH BEFORE THE OECD MEETING IN DAY, BUT IF THIS IS A SERIOUS DEADLINE AND VE HAVE TO PRESS FOR AN URGENT MEETING, THE FRENCH WOULD CERTAINLY WANT AN AGENDA AND SOME REASONABLE EXPLANATION OF WHY THEY HAVE TO TRAVEL TO LONDON IN SUCH HASTE. THIS WOULD NOT IE EASY TO EXPLAIN SATISFACTORILY FROM THE MATERIAL CONTAINED IS YOUR TUR.

I WOULD SUGGEST THAT THIS COULD REST BE HANDLED BY OUR SENIOR OFFICIAL VISITING PARIS, HE CAN TELL THE FRENCH THAT HE IS HERE ON OTHER BUSINESS AND WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BRING HIMSELF UP TO DATE ON GUANGDONG. HOWEVER, SUCH AN EXCHANGE OF VIEWS WOULD IN OUR VIEW RE UNLIKELY TO ADD MUCH TO WHAT WE KNOW ACOUT THEIR FINANCIAL PACKAGE.

5. IT WOULD ALSO BE DIFFICULT TO AVOID MENTIONING ANYTHING ABOUT OUR APPROACH TO THE AMERICANS IN SUCH AN EXCHANGE OF VIEWS ABOUT GUANGDONG, WITHOUT RISKING A SUBSEQUENT ACCUSATION OF BAD FAITH. THIS MIGHT THEREFORE BE ONE OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH IT WOULD BE NECESSARY TO SAY SOMETHING TO THE FRENCH.

PYM

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