Mr. Rippon plans to leave London on Thursday 7 September and fly to Hong Kong via Tokyo. He would stay privately in Tokyo and Hong Kong for a few days before starting his official business in Hong Kong. From there he would visit, in order, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Delhi, Colombo, Nairobi and Mauritius, returning to London from Mauritius on Monday 2 October. (He was invited to visit Mauritius in early 1971, and the Prime Minister has repeated the invitation on several occasions since then.) I attach a provisional programme which goes into somewhat fuller detail.
Mr. Rippon recognises that these are, of course, early days, and that several factors could intervene to necessitate a change of plan. However, it is. obviously best to lay some plans early, if his visits to the various capitals are to be really useful. Mr. Rippon would therefore be grateful to know whether the Foreign Secretary agrees that it would be useful for him to undertake this programme of visits; and whether he would be prepared to sanction them in principle.
I understand that the Prime Minister may be visiting the Far East at the end of September, and that the Foreign Secretary will be in New York for the UN General Assembly. It does not, however, appear that there should be any immediate conflict between Mr. Rippon's plans and these other visits.
If the Foreign Secretary agrees with Mr. Rippon's proposals I hope that we may rely on your help in arranging the details..
yours
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Michaet Pakenham (M.A. Pakenham) Private Secretary.
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