331
GRS
450 CONFIDENTIAL
FM BRASILIA
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 127
Confidential
OF 0913DOZ MAY 86
INFO PRIORITY PEKING, HONG KONG, UKMIS GENEVA
2727
YOUR TELNO 115: HONG KONG AND GATT
TOP COPY
HKKI22 /!....
RECF'
IND.
GIC BY
1 5 MAY 1986
1. SUMMARY: SENIOR BRAZILIAN OFFICIAL REAFFIRMS THAT BRAZILC
IS UNLIKELY TO MAKE DIFFICULTIES AND UNDERTAKES TO INFORM HM
AMBASSADOR IF POSITION CHANGES. BATISTA HIMSELF WILL NOT BE
IN GENEVA FOR THE CRUCIAL MEETING.
2. THOMPSON FLORES HAS BEEN AWAY FROM BRASILIA AS HAS THE FOREIGN MINISTER, AND THE SECRETARY-GENERAL SUGGESTED THAT I SHOULD CONTINUE MY DIALOGUE WITH AMBASSADOR REGO BARROS (IN EFFECT, THE ASSISTANT UNDER-SECRETARY DIRECTLY CONCERNED WITH GATT MATTERS).
3. I CALLED ON REGO BARROS ON 8 MAY. I SAID THAT WHILE I HAD BEEN REASSURED BY EARLIER INDICATIONS FROM THOMPSON FLORES THAT THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT WOULD BE INSTRUCTING AMBASSADOR BATISTA TO LET THE QUESTION OF HONG KONG MEMBERSHIP PASS WITHOUT CONTROVERSY, WE KNEW THAT AMBASSADOR BATISTA WAS INCLINED TO RAISE LEGALISTIC POINTS AND I WANTED THE BRAZILIAN GOVERNMENT TO BE LEFT IN NO DOUBT AS TO THE SERIOUS POLITICAL IMPORTANCE WE ATTACHED TO HIS NOT DOING SO ON THIS OCCASION. I THEN WENT THROUGH WITH HIM CAREFULLY POINTS (A) TO (E) IN YOUR TELEGRAM NO 112 AND STRESSED THAT I HOPED HE WOULD SHARE MY VIEW THAT IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES THIS WAS NOT A CASE
-
FOR LETTING THE MAN ON THE SPOT INDULGE IN A DEBATING EXERCISE WHICH COULD RESULT IN VERY SERIOUS DAMAGE TO A CAUSE TO WHICH BRAZIL AS WELL AS BOTH CHINA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM ATTACHED
IMPORTANCE, IE CONFIDENCE IN AND ABOUT HONG KONG.
4. REGO BARROS SAID THAT HE THOUGHT HE COULD PUT MY MIND AT REST. THE POSITION WAS STILL AS THOMPSON FLORES HAD DESCRIBED IT: NO FORMAL INSTRUCTIONS HAD AS YET BEEN SENT TO GENEVA BUT THEY PROBABLY WOULD BE SHORTLY, AND THERE WAS EVERY REASON TO THINK THEY WOULD BE ALONG THE LINES WE HAD REQUESTED. ALTHOUGH THESE MIGHT REQUIRE TO BE SIGNED OFF AT A HIGHER LEVEL THERE WAS NO RISK WHATSOEVER THAT INSTRUCTIONS ON THIS SUBJECT WOULD GO OUT WITHOUT PASSING THROUGH HIM. IF THERE WAS ANY QUESTION OF AUTHOR ISING, LET ALONE ENCOURAGING, A DISPUTATIOUS ATTITUDE IN THE BRAZILIAN MISSION IN GENEVA ABOUT THIS HE WOULD GIVE ME
Confidential
ABBIG