Mr Hall
CONFIDENTIAL
мн
1/7/82.
(PCD)
der. Williamson
HUGD.
Prime Minister's Visit to the Far East, September 1982
I was surprised to say the least to see your letter of 29 June to John Coles, which included political advice to No 10 about whether the Prime Minister should see Soviet and Indian leaders on her way to and from the Far East. There is no indication in your letter that any FCO Ministers were consulted about this. It is of course quite wrong that political advice should be offered in this way. Moreover, I had thought that, after a previous problem over links with No 10, we had clearly agreed that where there was any question of advice of this kind (or arrangements affecting the Secretary of State as well as the Prime Minister), you would consult this office before writing. In this case, it was surely obvious that the Secretary of State should be consulted and that the advice in your letter should have gone to No 10 from this office. I should add that Mr Coles has made quite clear, both on this occasion and in the past, that he wishes advice of this kind to come from this office or at the least that it should be clear that we have been consulted Wand agree.
I should be grateful if you could ensure in future that we are consulted whenever the advice you are giving could be regarded as political or concerns the Secretary of State's own movements. In this case, could you now submit to us, clearing with departments, Under-Secretaries and Ministers as necessary, on the route and the desirability of stop-overs, with a draft letter to No 10 from this office. Mr Coles is awaiting this advice before consulting the Prime Minister.
30 June 1982
cc: PS
PS/PUS
Mr Thomson (FED) Mr Dales (SAD) Mr Smith (EESD)
J.a-Holmes
(J E Holmes)
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