CONFIDENTIAL
A.
057450 MDLIAN 8103
CONFIDENTIAL
FM CANBERRA
TO PRIORITY FCO
TELNO 419
OF 03013OZ MAY 90
(AMENDED DISTRIBUTION 3/5)
YOUR TELNO 265: VISIT TO UK BY AUSTRALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER.
1. THE FOLLOWING POINTS MAY BE HELPFUL IN PREPARING BRIEFING FOR YOUR MEETING WITH EVANS ON 14 MAY.
2. BILATERAL
(A) VISITS
(I) MENTION VISITS TO AUSTRALIA BY LORD PRESIDENT, ENERGY AND HOME SECRETARIES.
(II) INVITE EVANS TO PAY A PROPER VISIT TO LONDON THIS YEAR OR NEXT TO PERMIT REALLY SUBSTANTIVE TALKS. ADD ANYTHING YOU CAN SAY ABOUT PROSPECT OF YOUR VISITING AUSTRALIA.
(B) CONSTITUTION ACT: LORD PRESIDENT PLANS TO HAND OVER FORMALLY IN AUGUST (EVANS CLAIMED EARLIER THAT HE WAS NOT INTERESTED IN THIS SUBJECT, BUT WE HOPE THAT AS THE LORD PRESIDENTS HOST HE WILL NOW SHOW SOME INTEREST).
(C) MARALINGA (ONLY IF RAISED): OUR FORMAL POSITION IS WELL KNOWN. WHAT IS AUSTRALIAN THINKING ON THE CLEAN-UP OPTIONS?
(D) ARMS SALES TO AUSTRALIA'S REGION (ONLY IF RAISED): PRIME MINISTER HAS UNDERTAKEN TO REPLY TO MR HAWKE IN DUE COURSE IT'S A DIFFICULT ISSUE FOR US. NOTE HAWKE'S COMENT THAT PROPOSALS MADE BY AUSTRALIAN OFFICIALS WERE TOO AMBITIOUS.
2. INTERNATIONAL/REGIONAL
(A) EUROPE: OUR ATTITUDE TO POLITICAL UNION: ECONOMIC AND MONETARY UNION: GERMAN UNIFICATION: FUTURE DEFENCE ARRANGEMENTS: AUSTRALIAN REQUEST FOR REGULAR EXCHANGES WITH EC PRESIDENCY. (EVANS TOURED EASTERN EUROPE IN THE WINTER: THE DEPARTMENT HAS TEXT OF HIS SPEECH SUMMARISING HIS THEN VIEW OF PROSPECTS).
(B) SOUTH AFRICA: PROSPECTS FOR NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN SAG AND BLACK ORGANISATIONS. SANCTIONS YESTERDAY'S DEBATE. HOW IS AUSTRALIA APPROACHING MEETING OF COMMITTEE OF COMMONWEALTH
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