TNAG-0439-FCO40-504-Ministerial-Visits-Committee-monthly-returns-from-Hong-Kong--1974 — Page 87

CONFIDENTIAL

Mr Wilford

PS to Lord Goronwy-Roberts

20

M. Difwiddy

bo. pes of

PA

2217

A

VISIT BY LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS TO FIJI AND OTHER COUNTRIES: OCTOBER 1974

1. The Secretary of State and the Prime Minister have approved

the proposal that Lord Goronwy-Roberts should represent Her Majesty's

Government at the celebrations of the Centenary of the Deed of

Cession of Fiji (probably from 8/9 to 11/12 October). What other

countries could usefully be included in Lord Goronwy-Roberts'

itinerary?

2. It is desirable that a Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister

should pay an early visit to Australia and New Zealand. There has

been little opportunity for Ministerial talks with the Australian

and New Zealand Governments on broad issues of foreign policy since

the change of administration here. Mr Whitlam's and Mr Kirk's

planned visits to the UK this summer have had to be postponed and

may not now take place until late this year. A visit by Lord

Goronwy-Roberts to both countries would thus be opportune.

Mr Shore will be visiting Australia and New Zealand in late July/

early August and Mr Prentice may visit Australia to attend the

Inauguration of the Anglo/Australian telescope at Siding Springs in

New South Wales in October. These visits will demonstrate the

British Government's wish to maintain the closest possible links

with both countries (and go some way to balance the more frequent

rate of visits to the UK by Australian and New Zealand Ministers).

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CONFIDENTIAL

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