CONFIDENTIAL
DSR 11C
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that risk a real.
have told ASEAN countries that they wish to talk to them
"as soon as practicable after completion of negotiations
with the British" - a statement which goes further than
was agreed at the last round of talks. I accept that
the Australians would be disappointed not to have further
talks immediately, but our commitment in the agreed record
is only to talk "as soon as possible" and I hope they
can be brought to recognise that it was in their own
interests to handle this issue in a way which minimises th
chances of adverse repercussions din relationswith a large
number of countries;
particularly as the Australians
in our case a bad effect could
Given that we
go wider than air services and include adverse effects
on our relations with the Australians.
are a crucial element in the Australian proposals, I would
also hope that our own bargaining position could be pro-
tected even if talks are deferred.
4. I wonder, therefore, if you would agree that, in hand-
ing over the proposed message, our High Commission in
Canberra should tell the Australians that we look forward
the first round of their
to meeting them as soon as they are able to report on /
discussions with third countries.
They might add that to
proceed straightaway would risk making the whole operation
more difficult for both of us.
5. At the same time as the message is delivered in
Canberra, I propose that our Posts in certain midpoint
/countries
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