TNAG-1147-FCO40-1427-UK-policy-towards-South-East-Asia--including-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 102

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HEAD OF MISSION CONFERENCE, BANGKOK, DECEMBER 1982

1.

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I think that there would be some merit in adding a Far Eastern dimension to the scope of the 1982 conference (your minute of 27 August). Perhaps we should go for topics which are of concern to SE Asian Posts, such as Chinese and Japanese policy towards SE Asia and Sino/Soviet competition for influence in SE Asia. This would put the Far Eastern component of the agenda in second place, which in turn suggests attendance by Mr Whitehead from Tokyo rather than the Ambassador. I consider that if there is to be any discussion of Far Eastern matters, Sir P Cradock should attend from Peking because:

2.

(a) his deputy will be newly appointed;

(b) other participants will wish to be brought up to date

on internal political developments in China, which have significance for the whole region.

I am not convinced of the need for Mr Morgan to attend from Seoul: Korean influence in SE Asia is still modest, and the Koreans themselves are much more concerned with their relationships with Japan and the USA and with the threat they face from the North. However as there is no other Heads of Mission Conference which Mr Morgan could reasonably attend, and as his Post is isolated in many respects, I hope that he can be given an opportunity to express his own view on attending.

3.

On the need for papers to focus discussion, I think we should commission a Research Department study on the balance between Soviet and Chinese influence in SE Asia if that subject is selected for the agenda: it is not a topic which any one Head of Mission would necessarily be able to address as discussion leader.

4.

We would not wish to press for Lord Belstead to take the opportunity to visit any FED country during the period of the conference.

16 September 1982

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