405
CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Murray
UK/AUSTRALIA AIR SERVICES
Ar Thompson HRK 184/1 √17/7.
RECEIVED
1 7 JUL 1978
DENK OFFICER
INDEX
No at
RE: TRY
Action Teken
1. I discussed the point made by Sir Donald Tebbit, and recorded in your minute of 13 July, with MAED.
2. I fear I do take the view that it would give the mid- point countries the impression that we were ganging up and might be taken by the Australians as a commitment in principle if we were to join them in consulting the mid-point countries. If such consultations involved joint UK/Australian meetings with the ASEAN countries and India, and possibly the Netherlands, we would have very great difficulty in restraining Mr Rogers from going too far.
3. On the other hand, I agree that we should make some communication, through our Posts, to mid-point countries. I also agree that we must try to avoid the Australians feeling that they have been rebuffed. But I would not wish to take this to the point of having a second bilateral with the Australians, as DoT wish, before the Australians have had discussions with the mid-point countries. This would seem to me to be unwise.
4. In the light of your minute, and of the discussions which I had with Mr Rogers yesterday, which I reported to you, I would now like, if you concur, to write to him in the terms of the attached draft.
Рот
14 July 1978
Copies to:
Mr Cortazzi
HKGD
Mr Goodenough, MAED
MED
SEAD
WED
SWPD
NAD
CONFIDENTIAL
G G BROWN (MISS)