CONFIDENTIAL FM SINGAPORE
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 222
OF 12025OZ APRIL 88
CONFIDENTIAL
ра
17
065075 MDLIAN 8970
HKB
01713.
BANGKOK
INFO PRIORITY DTI, MODUK, KUALA LUMPUR, MANILA, JAKARTA, INFO PRIORITY BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, UKREP BRUSSELS, WASHINGTON INFO PRIORITY HANOI, TOKYO, CANBERRA
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG (FOR POLITICAL ADVISER)
SOSFA
MIPT :
COMMENT YOUR VISIT TO SINGAPORE :
SUMMARY
1.
HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL VISIT. NO BILATERAL PROBLEMS. SINGAPORE READY TO WORK AS PARTNER OF AN ECONOMICALLY TRANSFORMED BRITAIN. FURTHER JAPANESE POLICY AND THE SITUATION IN THE PHILIPPINES PREOCCUPY THE SINGAPOREANS.
DETAIL
2. THIS WAS A HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL VISIT AND I AM GRATEFUL TO YOU AND LADY HOWE FOR FINDING THE TIME AND OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE IT. THE FACT THAT WE HAPPILY HAVE NO BILATERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE SINGAPOREANS O BVIOUSLY SMOOTHED THE WAY. BUT IT IS HARD TO IMAGINE ANY OTHER COUNTRY, IN THE COMMONWEALTH OR BEYOND, WHERE EXCHANGES WITH MINISTERS AND OFFICIALS ARE EASIER, FRANKER, AND LESS SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE MISUNDERSTANDING. THE WELCOME YOU RECEIVED REFLECTED AN ABIDING GRATITUDE FOR WHAT BRITAIN HAS ACHIEVED IN THE PAST AND AN INFORMED AND GROWING RESPECT FOR OUR RECENT ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE. THE SINGAPOREANS ARE ALSO GENUINELY PLEASED AT THE DEGREE TO WHICH, BRITAIN, UNDER OUR PRESENT LEADERSHIP, AND, TO ADAPT ERNEST BEVIN, INCREASINGLY ''GIVEN THE COAL ''
AVAILABLE IS DEPLOYING NEWLY
ECONOMIC RESOURCES EFFECTIVELY IN ORDER TO PLAY A MORE ACTIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE ROLE IN WORLD AFFAIRS.
3.
THE VISIT'S IMPACT WILL BE REINFORCED BY THE FAVOURABLE PUBLICITY WHICH WE CAN CONFIDENTLY EXPECT FOR THE OPENING OF THE NEW BRITISH COUNCIL BUILDING ON 16 APRIL BY THE SINGAPORE MINISTER FOR
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