CONFIDENTIAL
RECORD OF A CONVERSATION BETWEEN
THE
The Quan tull has seen!
The Mehayen as esp. parse 16
fm 1/4,
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTHÍ
FOREIGN MINISTER AT THE
SECRETARY AND
THE
JAPANESE
STEIGENBERGER HOTEL,
BONN ON 16 JULY 1978
AT 0800 HRS
Those Present:
Rt Hon Dr David Owen MP Sir Michael Palliser Mr G G H Walden
HILK 040/1 RECEIVED IN REGISTRY NO. 51
14 AUG 1978
Mr Sonoda Mr Miyazaki Mr Kato Mr Sato
DESK OFFICER INDEX
PA
REGISTRY
Action Tako
F
1. Mr Sonoda said he was sorry that Parliamentary affairs in Japan. had forced him to postpone his visit to the UK. He recalled that the Japanese Emperor had once asked him what he wanted to achieve most as Foreign Minister. Mr Sonoda had replied that, though relations with the Soviet Union and China were basic issues of Japanese foreign policy, he wished to put most of his effort into developing relations with Western Europe, and especially the United Kingdom. Our relations had been close before the War, and he was sorry they had been less close afterwards. There was much talk of trilateral co-operation between the US, Japan and Western Europe. But Japanese ties with Western Europe were not as close as with America. He hoped to change this.
2. There were also some differences between the way the Japanese people saw Britain, and the British, Japan. There was a close affinity between the Imperial Family and the Royal Family. The Japanese Emperor's visit to the UK some decades ago had led him to see the Royal Family as a model for the Imperial Family. Anglo- Japanese relations had also been close after the Russo/Japanese War, and the Japanese people had great trust in the British people. Maybe the feelings of the British towards the Japanese were different, and perhaps partly because of those who had returned from British Colonies after the last War.
3. But the main thing now was to strengthen bilateral relations. There were problems, particularly in trade. But, as Dr Owen would have heard from Mr Wilford, the Japanese had been doing their best to solve these problems. Mr Sonoda would also like to increase personal contacts, and hoped to visit London after October. He had heard that Dr Owen planned to go to China. He would be very welcome to stop over in Tokyo. (At this point Mr Sonoda was called away to talk to his Prime Minister).
4. Mr Miyazaki recalled that Mr Peacock and Dr Owen had been in the chair of the CIEC. Dr Owen said that in some ways, it might have been better if the Paris meeting had gone on longer. It might now be useful to find a means of continuing the North/South dialogue at Ministerial level, though progress to date had been depressing. The Americans had been too keen to get results from the G77 countries on energy, and had lost sight of other things. Mr Miyazaki said that
CONFIDENTIAL
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