TNAG-0718-FCO40-916-Policy-on-issuing-postage-stamps-1978 — Page 4

Mr Day

CONFIDENTIAL

**

HKG 205/2

Mú

22 DEC 1978

761

M

וי

On Teke..

36

I agree with M Munro & th Day. Arreed HK+GD. that the designs slid. be

Mr du Rolay, P & CD retined to Questa withart official

UGANDA:

1.

Comment. I have havever mentioned the matter the matter to informally to My Heseltine so that he POSTAGE STAMPS CORONATION ISSUE WS in the picking if quest a

Epproach the Palace dired.

I attach a minute from Hong Kong and General Department、 asking for comments as to how they should advise a UK printing firm, the House of Questa, to seek Royal approval for an issue 2/12

of Ugandan stamps celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the

Coronation.

The background is as follows.

=

2. In July this year, the FCO were approached for advice by the House of Questa after they had been asked by the Ugandan Government to produce a four-denominational issue of stamps to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of The Queen's Coronation. The Ugandan proposal included one design which would have carried a portrait of Amin, together with Her Majesty, with a view of Buckingham Palace in the background. After discussions within the FCO and with the Lord Chamberlain's Office, Questa were advised of the rule that The Queen should not appear on a stamp with a reproduction of a living personality and that as a matter of courtesy designs should be submitted for royal approval before printing took place. Informally (since there is no ban on commercial trade in civil goods with Uganda) we advised the company against having anything to do with the Ugandan proposal. Questa were clearly undeterred however. 3.

Questa have now forwarded to us the completed designs for the stamps and ask how they should seek Royal approval. Nor- mally this would be sought by the appropriate High Commission in London. As far as I can judge, the designs meet the require- ments of the Lord Chamberlain's Office. We do not want to see HMG involved in any formal way. I consider therefore that Questa should be told that in view of the fact that we have no diplomatic relations with Uganda, the FCO is not in a position to offer advice as to how Royal approval might be sought for these designs. Nor can there be any question of the FCO indi- cating approval or disapproval of the designs. If Questa pressed their enquiry. they could be advised that they should seek Royal approval, perhaps by approaching the Palace direct.

CONFIDENTIAL

14. There

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