TNAG-0852-FCO40-1062-Visits-of-Royal-Navy-ships-to-Hong-Kong-and-China-1979 — Page 58

CONFIDENTIAL

to sacrifice a visit elsewhere, but not Tuvalu, or the New Hebrides.

4.

We are particularly pleased that CNICFLEET has included a visit to the New Hebrides in the programme. However, I have been asked to mention again the importance we attach to a RN visit to the New Hebrides to coincide with their independence in the middle of 1980. I can see that this is going to be a real difficulty as on present plans therewill be no RN ships in the area. I wonder if HMY Britannia could be the answer to our problems.

Is there any possiblity of the Royal Yacht being sent to the New Hebrides for independence? Britannia would have the additional advantage of providing a presence that the French cannot match a very important point in a condominium which came into existence as a result of the Anglo French Convention of 1887 when the two countries appointed a Joint Naval Commission, to protect the New Hebrides and the lives and properties of British and French subjects!

Yours ever,

boligen.

C A MUNRO

Defence Department

cc:

Mr Cortazzi

Mr Vereker (WED) Mr Coltman (SED) Mr Tatham (MED) Mr Powell (NENAD) Mr Smith (SEAD) Mr Holloway (SAD) Mr Hime (SWPD) Mr Varcoe (CSAD)

Mr Rosling (EAD)

Mr MacKilligan (WAD)

Mr Sindall (SAMD)

Mr Pettitt (PTD)

Mr Holmes (WIAD) Mr Masefield (FED) Mr Yarnold (NAD) Mr Perceval (M&CD)

Mr Quantrill (HKGD)✓✓

CONFIDENTIAL

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