00 KUALA LUMPUR
CONFIDENTIAL
24839
GRS 841
CONFIDENTIAL
FM FCO 2315452 FEB 82
TO IMMEDIATE KUALA LUMPUR
TELEGRAM NUMBER 91 OF 23 FEBRUARY
INFO HONG KONG (FOR GOVERNOR)
YOUR TELNO ALLOT 1 OF 15 FEBRUARY AND HONG KONG TELMO 180 OF
23 FEBRUARY: UK/MALAYSIA AIR SERVICES
1.
WE QUITE UNDERSTAND YOUR FEELING THAT WE OUGHT TO TRY
AND GIVE A CONSTRUCTIVE AND POSITIVE RESPONSE TO ISHAK'S
APPROACH TO VARCOE. WE WOULD ALSO OF COURSE ECHO ISHAK'S HOPE
THAT THE MATTER CAN BE AMICABLY RESOLVED.
2.
THE PROBLEM IS THAT HIS IDEA OF A KIND OF INFORMAL
PRE-NEGOTIATION RISKS MAKING IT MORE RATHER THAN LESS LIKELY
THAT THE TALKS WILL GET OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT. EVEN IF ONE
PUTS THE MOST CHARITABLE CONSTRUCTION ON ISHAK'S MOTIVES, WE
SEE AN ALTOGETHER GREATER DANGER OF DAMAGING CONSEQUENCES FLOWING
PROM HIS PREFERRED APPROACH THROUGH THE RAISING OF
-
UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS AND/OR GIVING AMMUNITION FOR SUBSEQUENT ACCUSATIONS (AND PERHAPS FEELINGS) OF ILL-FAITH THAN THROUGH
THE NORMAL PROCEDURE OF HOLDING AIR SERVICES CONSULTATIONS.
DOURT WE SHALL FIND THAT THERE IS A GAP BETWEEN WHAT THE
MALAYSIANS ARE HOPING FOR ON THE KL-LONDON ROUTE AND WHAT WE
COULD ACCEPT, EVEN WITH 'SYMPATHETIC CONSIDERATION', BUT THAT
IS PRECISELY WHAT AIR SERVICES CONSULTATIONS ARE DESIGNED TO IDENTIFY AND RESOLVE.
NO
3.
FOR SIMILAR REASONS YOU SHOULD NOT REPEAT NOT YOURSELF
PROPOSE AIR SERVICES CONSULTATIONS. IT IS FOR THE MALAYSIANS
TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY NOW WISH TO MAKE DEFINITE PROPOSALS.
THEY SHOULD BE GIVEN NO REASON TO SUPPOSE THAT THEY CAN SECURE
ANY INCREASES IN CAPACITY WITHOUT AIR SERVICE CONSULTATIONS AND
DETAILED DISCUSSION OF THE FACTUAL JUSTIFICATION OF THEIR REQUEST, NOR THAT WE SHALL BE ABLE TO AGREE TO ANY INCREASES BEYOND THE LEVELS WHICH SUCH CONSULTATIONS MAY REASONABLY SHOW
1
CONFIDENTIAL
1
wp
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.