GR 342
CONFIDENTIAL
DESKBY 2109007 DEC 73
CONFIDENTIAL
FX BANGKOK 210495Z DEC 78
TO IMEDIATE DISTRESS FCO
TEL NO DISTRESS 205 OF 21/12/78
FOR DUNCAN FROM GOR ING-MORRIS
YOUR TEL NO DISTRESS 152: RITA NIGHTINGALE
88
NA HKK 385/2
RECEIVED IN A
21DCCW/73
89
51
INDEX
1.3Y PRIOR ARRANGEMENT, I SPOKE YESTERDAY TO THE
DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE POLITCAL DEPARTMENT AT THE MFA
ON THE LINES OF PARA 1 OF MY TEL NO 479, ADDING THAT WE WERE ANXIOUS THROUGH QUIET DIPLOMACY TO SEEK THE COOPERATION OF THE THAI AUTHORITIES IN RESOLVING THIS CASE. I SAID WE WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR THEIR ADVICE, PARTICULARLY ON THE TIMING OF ANY APPEAL FOR CLEMENCY AND ON WHETHER OUR PROPOSED MEMORANDUM SHOULD ACCOMPANY THE DEFENCES APPEAL
OR BE SUBMITTED SEPARATELY.
2.DR OWART HEARD ME OUT FULLY(WITH AN ASSISTANT TAKING NOTES) AND AGREED THAT WE SHOULD WORK TOGETHER TO TRY TO REACH A SATISFACTORY CONCLUSION.HE PROVISED TO
CONSULT HIS COLLEAGUES AND TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ME AGAIN SOON .ON A POINT OF DETAIL, HE REMARKED THAT MISS TGHTINGRALE HAD NOT CONE THROUGH TO THE END WITH HER
DEAL, BUT HE GELMED TO ACCEPT MY EXPLANATION THAT
SHE HAD HAD ENOUGHT UPT. THE COURTS AND PREFERRED TO TAKE HER CHANCES WITH ANNESTIES. LAND OWART TWICE EXPRESSED HIS GRATITUDE THAT WE HAD NOT SOUGHT IN
MANY WAY
TO INTERFERE WITH THE THAI PROCESSES OF LAW AND FOR
OUR GENERAL RESTRAINT.
3.THIS WAS A FRIENDLY AND PURPOSEFUL MEETING.MY FOINT ABOUT MISS NIGHTINGALES CONTINUED PROTESTATIONS INNOCENCE SEEMED TO BE PARTICULARLY WELL TAKEN. THE FOREIGN MINISTERS CHOICE OF DR OWART AS OUR INTERLOCUTOR CAN BE INTERPRETED AS INDICATING THAT THERE IS THE POLITICAL WILL TO LIFT THE CASE OUT OF THE STRICTLY LEGAL MORASS. HOPE THEREFORE THAT YOU WILL SOON BE ABLE TO GET THE PROPOSED MEMORANDUM TO US IN CASE THE PACE QUICKENS.
RY
4.en
CONFIDENTIAL
/4. WE