TNAG-1171-FCO40-1452-Future-of-Hong-Kong-1982 — Page 6

CODE 18-77

Reference

CONFIDENTIAL

ник

04011

раженого,

Mr Thomson (FED)

CALL BY SOVIET SECOND SECRETARY

840816

تا کیا

1. Mr E Safronov, 2nd Secretary at the Soviet Embassy, called today for a tour d'horizon on China.

876

See B17

We agreed.

2. Mainly we talked about Sino-Soviet relations. that Britain and the Soviet Union, like other countries, had

common interest in a stable, prosperous and peaceful China. I said that we would welcome an improvement in the rather abnormal relations between China and the Soviet Union, pointing out that both countries could gain a good deal from a closer understanding of each other. We were keen that there should be more contacts between China and the West so that China could see more clearly, what we had to offer. No doubt the. Soviet Union would welcome more contacts and more visitors' from China for the same reason. But I doubted that there could be any dramatic improvement in Sino-Soviet relations without a dramatic change in Soviet foreign policy generally.

3. Mr Safronov was clearly well-informed but his only point of substance was that the 20 May Alexandrov article on Sino- Soviet relations expressed the view of the Soviet Government 'from A to Zee'. I said that we had already received a copy of the Novosti translation. On the question of China's insistence that the Soviet Union should acknowledge the inequality of the Tsarist treaty cedging Chinese territory. to Russia, Mr Safronov was not hopeful. Reopening old historical disputes about territory was never a good idea. In general Mr Safronov's manner tended to confirm. the impression that the Soviet Union are genuinely interested in some improvement of relations but realise that Chinese foreign policy has not changed substantially any more than has their own, but that a modest improvement in the atmosphere of exchanges may be attainable.

4.

On Sino-US relations I expressed cautious optimism and the view that even if diplomatic relations are down-graded, neither side will allow this to affect their general foreign policy or trade and other interests. It would not affect West European perceptions of China.

5.

Mr Safronov asked about the House of Lords debate of 18 May on Anglo-Chinese relations. I explained that this had been brought about by a question from Lord Rhodes. The views expressed,that the Government should do more to encourage Anglo-Chinese exchanges,reflected thinking in the House of Commons and more generally. The Government was considering whether more could be done, for example, in the way of technical assistance.

CONFIDENTIAL

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