73
CONFIDENTIAL
R Goring-Morris Esq. OBE
Bangkok Thailand
День
Soring Merriz,
See green and Commonwealth Office
London S.W.1
87
1 December 1978
HKK 385/2.51
C
18 DEC 1978
RY
Talız
F
MISS RITA NIGHTINGALE
1.
Thank you for your telegram No. 305 about your talk with David Lyman which reached us in good time for the Secretary of State's meeting with Mrs Barbara Castle on 23 November (record being sent separately). In speaking to Mrs Castle the Secretary of State endorsed the advice given him (para 3 of my telegram No. 305) that we should respond to the hints you have Teceived from the Thais to discuss with them, on an informal basis, ways in which we might overcome the problem presented by the Nightingale case. The Secretary of State feels confident that in the light of your letter of 20 October and good relations we enjoy with the Thai Govt that they are seriously interested in trying to find a way out.
2.
As part of our response the Secretary of State decided to mention the matter to the Thai Foreign Minister when he saw him on the 28 November. Dr Owen intended to make only the merest reference to the case (probably over lunch) but we hoped it would be enough for you to be able to take things from there and explore with your own contacts ways in which we might approach the problem. Unfortunately at the time of writing this letter to catch the bag we have been unable to check with the Secretary of State on whether he in fact raised it but we will let you know as soon as we hear.
3. How and when you take follow-up action is a matter we are content to leave to your discretion. It seems however to us that there would be advantage in your giving the matter a slight airing before we see the results of the December amnesties in order to maintain a gentle momentum. If Miss Nightingale gains some remission of sentence at the December amnesty the way will be open to us to press ahead a little more quickly. We may also want to have a chat with the Thai Ambassador here but before doing that we would like to see whether you score.
Our main concern is that we do not want to frighten the Thais off in going too far in the preliminary stages and
4.
/until
CONFIDENTIAL
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