CONFIDENTIAL
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From: Sir Patrick Wright
Date: 23 March 1987
PS/All Ministers
Secretary of State
CC:
Mr Thomas
Mr Ratford
Mr Renwick
Mr Long
Mr Barrington Mr Fall
Mr Torry, SED Mr Hum, HKD Mr Gore-Booth,
Planning Staff
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VISIT TO SPAIN AND PORTUGAL
1. As you know, I spent last week visiting Spain and Portugal. In both countries, my programme was divided roughly equally between talks with my opposite numbers and other officials; and "pastoral" visiting of staff and office accommodation. My wife accompanied me, having meetings with the Diplomatic Service Wives' Association in both capitals, as well as visiting staff accommodation and welfare facilities. Both my wife and I will be in touch with the DSWA and Administration respectively about a number of administrative and management points.
Spain
2. I started my visit to Spain with a brief overnight stay in Malaga, being later joined by my wife in Madrid on Monday afternoon 16 March. Although business at the Consulate was untypically quiet for a Monday morning, I had an opportunity to talk to the locally-engaged Consul, Tom Tuite, and the Commercial Counsellor from Madrid, John Flynn, about the pressure of consular work in Malaga, which is formidable and increasing. I was later able to discuss with the Ambassador what arrangements would be appropriate following Mr Tuite's retirement next year. Although the latter told me that he would be prepared to stay on after his 60th birthday, Lord Nicholas does not think that this would be a sensible arrangement, and is likely to recommend strongly that a UK-based DS6 should be appointed to succeed Mr Tuite.
3.
In Madrid, I had separate talks with the Secretary-General of the Foreign Ministry, Sr
Perpiná-Robert, who is effectively the Head of the Spanish Diplomatic Service, and who regarded himself as my host; and with the Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign Ministry, Sr Maximo Cajal, who is in effect Political Director. I also paid a call on Dr Ezquerra, the Director-General for Europe.
PUSBSK
CONFIDENTIAL