TNAG-0612-FCO40-760-Visits-of-Lord-Goronwy-Roberts--Minister-of-State-for-Foreig-1977 — Page 34

GRPS 22J

IMMEDIATE

CYPHER CAT A

FM F C 0 151935Z

CONFIDENTIAL.

CONFIDENTIAL

i

TO IMMEDIATE MANILA TELEGRAM NUMBER 27 OF 15 FEBRUARY,

AND TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG (FOR GOVERNOR)

PERSONAL FOR AMBASSADOR FROM PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS.

་

18%.

1. OWING TO THE DETERIORATING CONDITION OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE, LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS HAS VERY REGRETFULLY DECIDED TO REMAIN IN LONDON THIS WEEK AND NEXT. WE HOPE TO OBTAIN TOMORROW THE AGREEMENT OF 10 DOWNING STREET, DOT AND COMMITTEE ON INVISIBLE EXPORTS FOR A REPLACEMENT, POSSIBLY LORD SHEPHERD TO TAKE OVER AS LEADER OF THE BRITISH DELEGATION TO THE CITY OF LONDON CONFERENCE, AS THE PRIME MINISTER'S PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE (WE KNOW FROM INFORMAL SOUNDINGS THAT LORD SHEPHERD IS PREPARED TO TAKE THIS ON).

IF SO,

2. THE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR ADVICE ON WHETHER THE CALLS ON THE PRESIDENT AND FOREIGN MINISTER SHOULD STAND. THESE WOULD OF COURSE BE IN LORD SHEPHERD'S CAPACITY AS THE PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND NOT AS A GOVERNMENT MINISTER. YOU WILL RECALL THAT HE LEFT THE GOVERNMENT LAST OCTOBER.

3. THE MINISTER OF STATE FEELS SURE THAT BOTH MARCOS AND ROMULO WILL UNDERSTAND AND SYMPATHISE WITH HIS REASON FOR HAVING TO CANCEL THIS VISIT AT SUCH SHORT NOTICE. HE HAS ALSO ASKED ME TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE CONSIDERABLE WORK THAT YOU HAVE PUT

INI HE REGRETS VERY MUCH THAT THIS HAS PROVED ABORTIVE.

CROSLAND

FILES

SEAD

HKD

PC D

NEWS D

PS/LORD GORONWY-ROBERT

PSIPUS

SIR-A. DUFF

MRCORTAZZI MR MURRAY

COMPDENTIAL