CONFIDENTIAL
-
Explain our views on the way forward on aid to the
soviet Union, and stress the need for coordination with the Japanese;
Confirm that we share Japanese views on the need to adopt a more forward-looking policy towards China, while continuing to look for an improvement in human rights performance;
Remind the Japanese that a successful Uruguay Round settlement will involve concessions on rice;
- Stress that the UK continues to play an
influential role in the EC, and continues to welcome
Japanese investment.
Assistance to the Soviet Union
The Japanese have asked to discuss this subject.
They are much more sceptical than most Western countries
about how much has been achieved under
President Gorbachev, and think that the Pacific Rim
perspective on security policy is inadequately
acknowledged by the Western Alliance. They have made
clear that they are not willing to consider financial
assistance to the USSR until the Northern Territories
issue has been resolved satisfactorily. There has been
no progress on this recently, although the forthcoming
visits to Japan of Shevardnadze (in September 1990) and
Gorbachev (in 1991) may help to move things forward.
The Prime Minister night give Mr Kaifu our views on ways in which the West might help the process of economic
It would be helpful if she could brief him on
reform.
CONFIDENTIAL
-2-