SR 200
CONFIDENTIAL
нка 38671
- 8 DEC 1977
PESA OP
NO. 51
REGISTRY
Action Taken
Copy for HIGD file
ры
8/12
IMMEDIATE
CYPHER/CAT A
RAA
FM FCO 061729Z
INDEX
CONFIDENTIAL
No
LL
283
TO IMMEDIATE HAMILTON (PERSONAL) TELNO 40 OF 6 DECEMBER
FROM PUS
1. I WAS DEEPLY CONCERNED AND INDIGNANT TO LEARN THAT THE TEXT OF
THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S STATEMENT IN THE HOUSE YESTERDAY DID NOT
REACH YOU IN TIME.
2. THE DEPARTMENT HAD FULLY INTENDED TO CABLE THE DRAFT OF THE STATEMENT, WHICH WAS PREPARED LATE ON SUNDAY NIGHT, AS SOON AS IT HAD BEEN APPROVED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE. THIS WAS NOT IN FACT
DONE THAT NIGHT SINCE WE HAD BEEN TOLD THAT FOR LOCAL SECURITY
REASONS YOU HAD ADVISED THAT THE DEPUTY GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WOULD
BE OFF THE AIR, BUT WE SHOULD OF COURSE HAVE ENSURED THAT YOU SAW
THE TEXT YESTERDAY BEFORE THE SECRETARY OF STATE SPOKE IN THE
HOUSE. FAILURE TO DO THIS WAS INEXCUSABLE. AND THE DAMAGE WAS COMPOUNDED BY THE FACT THAT FOR TECHNICAL REASONS (A FAULTY CIRCUIT)
THE COI TRANSMISSION OF THE VERBATIM TEXT OF THE STATEMENT AND THE
FOLLOWING DEBATE WAS NOT SENT YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.
3. I CAN ONLY OFFER MY APOLOGIES. ALL CONCERNED REALISE THAT THERE
MUST BE NO REPETITION OF SUCH A CHAPTER OF ACCIDENTS. WE FULLY
RECOGNISE THE DIFFICULT AND WORRYING TIME YOU ARE HAVING, AND WILL
DO OUR BEST NOT TO COMPOUND YOUR PROBLEMS.
4. THE SECRETARY OF STATE WILL BE REPLYING TO THE PREMIER'S
MESSAGE LATER TODAY.
OWEN
FILES
WIAD
нка ад 013
PS/PUS
MR CORTAZZI MR STRATTON
CONFIDENTIAL