Ak
CONFIDENTIAL
the Cook celebrations were over. We have since established that
the Chancellor of the Exchequer has no plans to visit that part of the world this year. The President of the Board of Trade plans to visit Argentina in November and (according to his private office) he might possibly be receptive to the idea of going on to Australia and New Zealand. It is not now envisaged that Lord Shackleton will lead the Civil Service team to Australia
and New Zealand.
3. On 8 April Sir Denis Blundell extended an invitation to
the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Mrs. Thomson on
behalf of the New Zealand Government to visit New Zealand for
10 days or a fortnight. Mr. Thomson said he would like to accept but there were a number of difficulties over timing. Late August or early September was mentioned as a possibility.
4. It would be useful if Mr. Thomson could also visit
Australia if the visit to New dealand were to take place.
Once
the position about the U.K. election is clearer, we would propose
this.
Inward visits
New Zealand
5. The New Zealand Deputy Premier, Mr. Marshall, will pass through London on 8/9 June on his way to Geneva, and will call
on Mr. Thomson on 8 June. He will return for talks with
Mr. Thomson and other Ministers about EEC and the New Zealand
Trade Agreement on 15/16 June. Mr. Marshall would like to call on the Minister of Agriculture and the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 8/9 June and on the Prime Minister on 15/17 June.
We shall try to arrange these calls.
-2- CONFIDENTIAL
/Australia
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