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more glamorous visit to Vietnam tends to detract from the impact made by their own visits, the coat of which falle on their vote).
4. The group to go this year consists of eight MPs and two
Undor HOD's original arrangement they were due to leave for Singapore on Friday, 12 Sostenber, with their programme beginning on their arrival the following evening.
have now proposed that they should instead leave on
6 September, arriving in Singapore on 7 September, departing for Viotnan on 8 September, and then return from Vlothan to Singaporo on 13 September in time to pick up the MOD programne as though they had arrived that day from the U.K. They would still under the now proposals travel from the U.K. to Bingapore by RAP aircraft, but the flights between Singapore and Saigon, would be commercial flights arranged and payed for by tho Vietnamose Government.
5.
es
After consultation with Mr. Godden and the Victnancoe Ambaocaddr we decided that the best way to handle the invitations for the visit to Vietnam was for us to make the first oral approach to the Parliamentarians, and then to paso the names of those who could go to the Ambassador who would himself issue the formal invitations. I have now apoken to all of the Parliamentarians. Five (r. Harper, Lord Blyton, Mr. Wellbeloved, Mr. Grant and Ir. Scott-llopkins) have said that they would definitely accopt invitations for the Vietnam log, leaving as proposed on 6 September; two(Ur. Hlowerth and
r. Chichester-Clark) have said they would go if they could leave London on 8 September (this will probably be possible, but it requires further liaison with the MOD and Saigon); threef Lord Bothell, r, Butler, and . Figgin) have yet to give à fim answer but have promised to do so at or boforo Tuesday's briefing meeting. When we have all the answers ne will pass the names to the Vietnamese Ambassador, and also finalise travel and administration arrangements. o are also in touch with our Embassy in Saigon about the sahpe of the proffann0,
fir.
and
6. The party have already been briofed by the Ministry of Defence about their tour arrangements and the Service installations which they will be cocing. Howevor it also beoane apparent at the MOD briefing meeting (which I attended) that thore was a general requirement for political briefing on the countries they would be visiting. It was thus decided that the MOD would put this request to the FCO, which has subsequently resulted in the arrangements for the meeting under Mr. Fingland's chairmanship on Tuesday. A number of the Parliamentarians in foot suggested they should have writton briefs, but agroed to accept an oral briefing when the cecurity factors mere
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