CYPHER/CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
PRIORITY FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
EGRAM NO 106
TO TOKYO
11 FEBRUARY 79(FEJ)
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FOLLOWING FROM FAR EASTERN DEPARTMENT.
SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT.
ON RECEIPT TODAY OF PRIME MINISTER'S APPROVAL OF PROPOSED JOURNEY, A FORMAL NOTE WAS PREPARED CONVEYING TO THE JAPANESE AMBASSADOR THE QUEEN'S DECISION THAT SHE SHOULD BE REPRESENTED ON THE BRITISH DAY AT EXPO. '70 BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE. DELIVERY OF NOTE HAS, HOWEVER, BEEN POSTPONED UNTIL TOMORROW BECAUSE OF JAPANESE NATIONAL HOLIDAY TODAY.
2. YOU MAY THEREFORE CONFIRM TO THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT, AS YOU CONSIDER APPROPRIATE, THAT MR. STEWART WILL REPRESENT THE QUEEN, BUT THIS SHOULD PREFERABLY NOT BE DONE BEFORE FRIDAY, TO ALLOW TIME FOR THE JAPANESE EMBASSY HERE TO REPORT RECEIPT OF OUR FORMAL
INTIMATION.
3. PENDING CONFIRMATION OF FLIGHT DETAILS, DECISION ABOUT SECRETARY @ STATE'S ITINERARY IS STILL IN SUSPENSE. ACCORDING TO JAL HERE, CONTINUATION AFTER 1 APRIL IS IN DOUBT FOR REASONS CONNECTED WITH START OF TOKYO-PARIS SERVICE VIA MOSCOW. JAL HERE HOPE TO RECEIVE DECISION FROM TOKYO AT 9900 BST THURSDAY. WE WOULD HOPE THEREFORE TO BE ABLE DURING THURSDAY EITHER TO CONFIRM PROPOSALS IN BARRINGTON'S LETTER OF 6 FEBRUARY OR TO SEND REVISED INSTRUCTIONS.
4. WE SHALL BE DISCUSSING WITH JAPANESE EMBASSY TOMORROW POSSIBLE TIMING OF ANNOUNCEMENT OF MR. STEWART'S PLANS TO VISIT JAPAN. IF NECESSARY, ANNOUNCEMENT COULD BE MADE IN GENERAL TERMS WITHOUT MENTIONING PRECISE DATES OF ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE.V STEWART
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