CONFIDENTIAL
HKK 062/1 Акк
+255 7573
Z MAR 973
94
GPS 527
IMMEDIATE
CYPHER CAT A
FM BRUNEI 300780Z
CONFIDENTIAL
TO IMMEDIATE FCO TELNO 84 OF 30 MARCH
FA
А
Taken
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG (FOR GOVERNOR), JAKARTA, KUALA LUMPUR, SINGAPORE, INFO ROUTINE CANBERRA, WELLINGTON,
BRUNEI TALKS: MR JOHN DAVIES
1. MR JOHN DAVIES SAW THE SULTAN AND SIR OMAR FOR ABOUT 90 MINUTES LAST NIGHT ON HIS OWN. MR DAVIES TOLD ME HAD BEGUN BY EXPLAINING TO THE SULTAN THAT HE HAD JUST COME FROM MALAYSIA AND BROUGHT ASSURANCES OF GOOD WILL. SIR OMAR HAD RESPONDED THAT HE RECOGNISED THE SINCERITY OF THE MALAYSIAN PRIME MINISTER.
2. ON NEGOTIATIONS, MR DAVIES COUNSELLED A POSITIVE REACTION TO LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS' EFFORT TO ACHIEVE A NEW UK/BRUNEI AGREEMENT. HE TOLD THE SULTAN THAT IT WAS NO PART OF CONSERVATIVE POLICY TO DIMINISH THE STRENGTH OF THE BRITISH ARMY, BUT THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO RESTORE THE STATUS QUO ON THE GHURKHA GARRISON HERE IF EVENTS MOVED PRECIPITATELY AGAINST BRUNEI.
3. SIR OMAR REPLIED THAT HIS RESPONSE TO HER MAJESTY'S MESSAGE WOULD SHOW THAT THE BRUNEI NEGOTIATING POSITION WAS POSITIVE. IF APPROPRIATE ARRANGEMENTS COULD BE ACHIEVED, BRUNEI WAS VERY PREPARED TO REDUCE THE MINIMUM PERIOD OF SIX YEARS PREVIOUSLY THE BASIS OF THEIR PLANNING FOR THE ASSUMPTION OF FULL INDEPENDENCE. THERE WAS NO QUESTION OF BRUNEI NOT WANTING TO BECOME FULLY INDEPENDENT. SELF RESPECT DEMANDED THIS. IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE NEED FOR SERIOUS AND WELL CONSIDERED NEGOTIATIONS THAT BRUNEI HAD IN MIND JUNE AS THE MONTH IN WHICH TALKS SHOULD COMMENCE.
CONFIDENTIAL
/4.MR.DAVIES,
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