CYPHER/CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
WMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
ZLEGRAM NUMBER 399
TO BANGKOK
1 DECEMBER 1970
CONFIDENTIAL 911245Z
YOUR TELNO. 588: VISIT OF THAI PRIME MINISTER,
INVITATION IS FOR OFFICIAL VISIT OF UP TO A WEEK?? (WATTS' LETTER FAS 3/548/1 TO COOK OF 26 AUGUST).
OUR TELEGRAM NO. 347 WAS INTENDED TO INDICATE PERIODS MOST CONVENIENT FOR US WHEN, AS FAR AS CAN BE FORESEEN, VISIT BY THANGH WOULD NOT CLASH WITH ANYTHING ELSE AND HE COULD HAVE UNDIVIDED ATTENTION. ALTHOUGH WE EARLIER THOUGHT 16-30 MAY WOULD BE BEST THE AVAILABLE WEEKS ARE NOW THOSE BEGINNING 3 MAY AND 17 MAY. PERIOD 23-24 APRIL IS ALSO FREE, BUT RATHER CLOSE TO THE SEATO COUNCIL MEETING (AND OF COURSE THE MILITARY ADVISERS CONFERENCE WILL BE IN PROGRESS).
2. WE VERY MUCH HOPE THAT THAIS ARE NOT THINKING OF ASKING FOR THE DATES OF THE SEATO COUNCIL MEETING TO BE CHANGED. SHORT OF THIS, 17 THANOM CANNOT MANAGE VISIT WITHIN THE DATES INDICATED ABOVE WE SHOULD DO OUR BEST TO TRY TO ACCOMMODATE HIM. WE WOULD BE CONTENT FOR HIS VISIT TO COINCIDE WITH THE SEATO COUNCIL MEETING ON' 27 - 29 APRIL IF THAT IS WHAT HE WANTS, BUT IF HE CAME THEN HIS PROGRAMME WOULD HAVE TO BE CO-ORDINATED WITH HOSPITALITY OFFERED TO VISITING SEATO MINISTERS. DO THE THAIS PERHAPS HAVE IN HIND THAT THANOM MIGHT LEAD THE THAI DELEGATION AND ATTEND AT LEAST THE OPENING SESSION OF THE SEATO COUNCIL MEETING ? WE WOULD SEE NO OBJECTION AND MIGHT BE ABLE TO ARRANGE FOR HIM TO STAY ON FOR A DAY OR SO AFTER THE COUNCIL MEETING AS ON OFFICIAL GUEST.
3. PROGRAMME FOR MINISTERS IN APRIL AND MAY 1971 IS FILLING UP AND WE SHOULD LIKE TO HAVE SOME FIRM INDICATION OF THANOM'S WISHES WITHOUT DELAY.
DOUGLAS-HOME
DEPARTMENTAL DISTRIBUTION:
3.2.A.D.
P.& C.D.
DWG D.
DADO
CONFIDENTIAL
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