}
CONFIDENTIAL
within the Parti Socialiste is pre-eminent.
He is
DSR 11C
expected to weather the party's Congress in late October
without difficulty.
Externally President Mitterrand
faces a long and costly involvement in Chad. It has
marginally helped his popularity which is low. But that
will not prevent his displaying severe self-confidence at
the Summit.
3. Bilateral differences and irritants will, as usual
not be absent from this year's Summit. Apart from the EC
negotiations, on which the French are as far apart from
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us as anyone, we face actual or potential clashes over
Triumph Acclaim cars, the Falklands vote at the UN,
no-passport excursions and rating on cultural premises
But we still have a great deal in common, especially in
international policy. Despite a weak response to the
Korean Airliner tragedy, the French are firm on East-West
security issues and especially on INF. They have
strongly rebutted arguments for the inclusion of British
and French systems in the Geneva INF negotiations.
France has shown its continued determination to stand up
for Western principles outside Europe, most notably in
Chad and Lebanon.
4. French Ministers attending the Summit will be
M. Cheysson, M. Delors (Finance and the Economy),
M. Hernu (Defence), M. Rocard (Agriculture),
[Mme. Cresson (External Trade and Tourism), and
M. Bérégovoy (Social Affairs and National Solidarity)].
British Ministers attending will be Sir G Howe,
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