- A
VISIT OF SECRETARY OF STATE TO MOSCOW, 19727
(10)
say い EV. 10),
1. The main arguments for a visit in February and not May seem
to me to be Mr Bullard's point 4(a); the fact that a visit has
been on the stocks for a long time; and the possible
presentational advantage in this country of a visit earlier
rather than later. Mr Bullard's points 4(b), (c), and (d)
strike me as very speculative indeed. As Sir John Killick's
minute of 29 July to Mr Graham (copy attached) suggests, one
cannot predict how Berlin, MBFR etc. will go; and we have no
hard information as to whether and when President Nixon
might visit Moscow.
2. While February seems the better on balance, I share Sir John
Killick's view that the arguments are not overwhelming if the
Secretary of State has a distinct preference for May. In that
event we could perhaps suggest May tentatively to the
Russians, using the following arguments:-
(a) the fact of Mr Davies' visit in January;
(b)
the general pattern of the Secretary of State's diary;
(c) the joys of Spring as opposed to mid-Winter.
We could go on to offer to consider February if the Russians
thought May too late.
3. In any event, if we telegraph now, I think we should le ave
out the reference to President Nixon.
30 July 1971
Copy to: Sir S Crawford
Sir J Killick
Mr Margetson (SEAD)/
Mr Morgan (FED)
Mr Wilson
WAD
Mr Evans (NED
Mr James (WED)
Mr Hillman (P & C D)
Mr Laird (Hong Kong Dept) Lord Bridges (WOD)
Mr Bullard (EESD)
CONFIDENTIAL
C D Wiggin
PA, on Sops' visit fice.
..8.)