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COMMITTEE OFFICE
HOUSE OF COMMONS
LONDON SWIA OAA
115
NA
01-219
01-219 3000
(Direct Line) (Switchboard)
R+R PL
pre
zz1q
COMMITTEE
027
027/87 September 1986
RECEIVED ‚"! REGISTRY
1 & OCT 1986
DESK OFFICER
Deen Peter
INDEX
PA
REGISTRY
Action Taken
I am writing to bring you up to date with a number of
matters.
Far East and Pacific
We have spoken about the uncertainty which has been introduced by the response from the State Department, which seems to have come as a surprise to the US Embassy here as well as to us. I attach a copy, together with a copy of my reply. Although we now await further news from Washington, it is my guess that the US authorities will ask us not to visit the Philippines bases.
I know that the Committee will not wish to risk embarrassment to their hosts, nor to trespass on what may be
If asked, seen by the Americans as a sensitive situation. therefore, they will probably drop the Philippines from their programme. In that case, the visit to Hong Kong may possibly begin earlier, perhaps on 1 or 2 December. I have spoken to Geoff Thomas at the Hong Kong Office in London to let him know how things stand.
From the point of view of the programme, this may be no bad thing; the original intention of some 50 hours in the Colony would have made for a very rushed visit.
The Committee are still keen to visit Garcia, Guam and CINC PAC's Headquarters in Hawaii.
On the question of Diego Garcia, we shall perforce be dependent on US transport, whether from Kenya (which I understand is the normal route) or direct from Oman (as specifically offered by Secretary Lehman). If the Philippines were to be dropped from the programme, the onward flight might be to Singapore or to Hong Kong direct, rather than to Manila. Again, Secretary Lehman himself suggested that any of the three might be possible.