WHICH IS AN INESCAPABLE PART OF VISITS HERE. AND EXPECTATIONS IN HO KONG WOULD NO DOUBT BE LOWER.
WE WILL CLEARLY NEED TO DISCUSS THE TIMING AND VENUE FOR THE NEXT FOREIGN MINISTERS MEETING WITH THE CHINESE AT SOME STAGE. IF THEY RAISE THE QUESTION WITH ME DURING THE NEXT FEW WEEKS I WILL BE ABLE TO FEND THEM OFF WITHOUT TOO MUCH DIFFICULTY. BUT I THINK THAT BY LATE FEBRUARY OR EARLY MARCH WE WILL HAVE TO GIVE THEM SOME INDICATION OF WHAT WE HAVE IN MIND. IF WE HAVE NOT MOVED FORWARD IN THE INTERIM I WOULD SEE NO DIFFICULTY IN TELLING THEM PRETTY BLUNTLY THAT WE ATTACH IMPORTANCE TO OUR OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE AIRPORT MOU AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS VERY WILLING TO MEET QIAN AT A CONVENIENT TIME. BUT HE WOULD NOT WISH TO COME TO PEKING UNLESS THERE IS A GOOD PROSPECT OF RESOLVING OUR PRESENT DIFFERENCES DURING SUCH A VISIT, AND THAT HE WILL NOT BE CONVINCED THAT THERE IS SUCH A PROSPECT UNLESS THERE ARE TALKS BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES AND THEY MAKE PROGRESS. THIS WOULD BE TANTAMOUNT TO ASKING THE CHINESE TO PAY A PRICE FOR A VISIT BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE, SOMETHING THEY WOULD BE LOATHE TO DO. BUT WE WOULD IN ANY CASE NEED TO EXPLAIN TO THEM WHY IT WAS THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE WAS VISITING THE REGION (JAPAN, KOREA) BUT NOT COMING TO CHINA.
MCLAREN
PEHPAN 5715
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