CONFIDENTIAL
TT JAKARTA
TT KUALA LUMPUR
TT BANGKOK
TT SINGAPORE
GRS 906
CONFIDENTIAL
HKK040/57
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY!
0 5 NOV 1984
DESK OFFICER INDEX
REGISTRY
PA
Action Taken
Д
TELELETTER
2
7374 - 1
FROM J D I BOYD
AUSS
3 OCTOBER 1984
FOLLOWING FOR A E DONALD ESQ CMG JAKARTA
D H GILLMORE ESQ CMG
H JK STAPLES ESQ CMG
KUALA LUMPUR
BANGKOK
RM JAMES ESQ SINGAPORE (INFO)
PRIME MINISTER'S VISIT TO SOUTH EAST ASIA
1. I WAS VERY GRATEFUL FOR YOUR TELELETTER OF 19 SEPTEMBER
(MODIFIED BY YOUR TEL NO 351) AND DAVID GILLMORE'S OF
21 SEPTEMBER. I SHOULD TELL YOU WHERE MATTERS NOW STAND. I
SHOULD WELCOME EARLY COMMENTS ON OUR THINKING.
2.
THE PRIMARY FCO CONCERN REMAINS TO REINSTATE THE PM'S VISIT
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, CONSISTENT WITH A) REALISM ABOUT THE INDUSTRIAL PROBLEM HERE, B) THE NEED TO SMOTHER ANY SUSPICION AT YOUR END THAT UK INTEREST IN THE VISIT IS WANING AND C) ENSURING
THAT A SERIOUS PROGRAMME CAN BE DRAWN UP TO FULFIL THE ORIGINAL
OBJECTIVES FOR THE VISIT.
3. WE HAVE EXAMINED THE THREE BASIC OPTIONS: THE PARLIAMENTARY
RECESSES AT CHRISTMAS 1984, EASTER 1985 AND SUMMER 1985.
4.
CHRISTMAS 1984. THIS IS THE FRONTRUNNER IN PRINCIPLE.
IT IS STILL, SO FAR AS WE HAVE DETERMINED FROM INFORMAL SOUNDINGS,
THE PREFERENCE OF NO 10 AND OF MINISTERS HERE. BUT THE MORE
WE CONSIDER IT THE LESS SATISFACTORY IT SEEMS:
A) NO 10 ARE NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF DISCUSSING SUCH DATES AT
PRESENT. THEY DO NOT WISH EVEN TO BROACH THE SUBJECT WITH THE
PRIME MINISTER UNTIL THE MINERS' STRIKE IS OVER. ONCE IT IS,
A QUICK DECISION COULD WELL BE MADE. BUT I HAVE MYSELF NO
MONEY AT PRESENT ON AN EARLY END TO THE STRIKE.
1
CONFIDENTIAL