Tel. 584 6057
HUGH DICKINSON,
17 QUEENS GATE GARDENS,
LONDON, SW7 5LY
31st January 1989.
A R Paul, Esq.
Hong Kong Department,
Foreign & Commonwealth Office,
London,
SW1A 2AH.
Dear Mr Paul
Funeral of Emperor Hirohito of Japan on 24th February.
It would seem from last Sunday's Express that the decision to send the Duke of Edinburgh to the State Funeral to represent H M The Queen was taken in Downing Street in spite of the controversy from the Bul
Burma Star Association. This implies that after Prince Charles refused task the Duke had no say and will be doing what he is told.
Sir Geoffrey Howe has made it clear as to the Cabinet's decision for the attendance at the Funeral, namely that by-gones are by-gones and we must now respect Japan and its Leaders now an important world trading partner.
As your department is concerned with HongKong and the peaceful hand of responsibility to the Chinese in 1997, presumably you ascribe to this view of the Foreign Secretary.
If so, the next step is to consider with our trading partners attending the funeral in what way this can take place with low profile. It should be a civil ceremony without uniform or military homage: nor should the Duke of Edinburgh be seen shaking hands with Prince Akihito or acknowledging him with an Eastern bow. That can be done in private away from reporters and photographers.
The pomp and ceremony was avoided at the recent inaugural address to on the steps of Capitol Hill with President Bush and assembled delegates in dark suits, not morning coats and top hat. This should be followed in Tokyo so that the ceremony does not appear to be a coronation of the new Emperor of our 'trading partner'.
Likewise the Duke of Edinburgh should find that dark suit which overcomes that other problem: display of decorations from the War.
There was a photograph in the Telegraph about a month ago showing the Japanese 'Mafia' at
at the funeral of one of their colleagues. I wonder if the duke will be required to meet
meet businessmen' the next day as Lord Mountbatten of Burma had to the next day after avoiding Emperor Hirohito on his State Visit to Britain in 1971. After Mountbatten's death in 1979 I gather that the duke became patron of the Burma Star Association: hence his particular difficulty.
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