EXTRACT FROM STEERING BRIEF FOR THE VISIT OF THE PRIME
MINISTER TO JAPAN
Rhodesia (Mr Heath to lead)
But
37. The Japanese are prominent sanctions breakers.
they are nervous of possible criticism at the United Nations.
Japan's vote in the Security Council is important to us
(she retires at the end of 1972). Japan has so far abstained
on resolutions unacceptable to us, but she is always open
to the temptation to placate the Afro-Asians by voting for
their resolutions. There is likely to be a Security Council
meeting in September on Rhodesia.
Points to Make
a.
b.
We are grateful to Japan for her abstentions in
Security Council meetings in December 1971 and
March 1972. We hope that the Japanese will continue
to withhold their support from impractical extreme
resolutions.
It is in the interests of both countries to keep
the temperature down during the present period of
reflections inside Rhodesia. This is the only way
of removing the long-term embarrassment of the
problem for both of us.
.:
CONFIDENTIAL