TNAG-0940-FCO40-1159-Visits-by-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-Ministers-and-officials-t-1980 — Page 14

CONFIDENTIAL

NOTES ON FAMILIARISATION TOUR: VIENTIANE 20-24 NOVEMBER

Introduction

1. Coming from Hanoi, the most striking impression was the contrasting atmosphere among the people and particularly in the diplomatic community. Hanoi's claustrophobia and air of basic hostility to foreigners was absent, and there was no feeling of eating every banana with care in case it was your last.

Most strikingly, perhaps, the airport

is 20 minutes easy drive from town, and has an air of effic-

iency totally absent in Hanoi.

Inspection

2.

I crossed with the Inspectors at Vientiane Airport,

and they arranged for me to see their report in the Embassy.

I support their overall conclusion that the present staff of 6 UK based is excessive, but given their expectation that the mini-mission staff should be as representationally active as the present G4 and G6, I wonder if a G9 is adequate

support for a G5 Ambassador. There was, however, consider- able relief in the local diplomatic community and in the

Lao MFA that closure had not been recommended.

General Impressions

3.

During my stay Vientiane was being repainted for the

Fifth Anniversary of the Communist takeover on 2 December,

and enlivened by the festivities and fair at the That Luang

Pagoda, coinciding with the new moon on 22 November. It

was, therefore, perhaps uncharacteristically smart and busy,

and I was in any case unable to travel outside the town.

In this respect, at least, diplomats are more tightly restric- ted than in Hanoi. I saw no visible Vietnamese presence,

/any

nor

CONFIDENTIAL