CONFIDENTIAL
should await the outcome of Lord Carrington's own visit to that country in February. There is no point in inviting the Foreign Minister (who is personally sympathetic to the UK) in order to repair fences with the Prime Minister (who is not). In the light of his own visit, Lord Carrington will decide whether or not it would be a useful ploy to invite Dr Mahathir to the UK.
The Secretary of State has agreed to the despatch of the separate letter to No 10 about the Prime Minister's overseas visitors.
The Secretary of State's decisions on his major overseas trips were taken in the light of a meeting with other FCO Ministers.
18 November 1981
cc:
(FN Richards) Private Secretary
PS PS/LPS
PS/Mr Hurd
PCD
FED
SAD
PS/Mr Luce
SEAD
PS/Mr Marten
SED
PS/Lord Trefgarne
WID
PUS
NENAD
Sir A Acland
CAfD
Acting Chief Clerk
NAMD
Mr Bullard
MED
Mr Day
EESD
Sir J Graham
WAD
Sir L Allinson
SAMD
Mr Donald
Mr Fergusson
Mr Goodison
Mr Hannay
Mr Moberly
Mr Ure
Mr Fenn
CONFIDENTIAL