TNAG-1255-FCO40-1588-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 131

CONFIDENTIAL

DSR 11C

Mr Lawson, Mr Heseltine, Mr Walker, Mr Jopling,

[Mr Channon and Mr Tebbit]. Mr Parkinson had talks with

M.

Fabius (Industry and Research) on 26 September.

Objectives

5. The Summit provides an opportunity to emphasise the

importance of Anglo-French understanding and

co-operation. Much more unites us than divides us. The

French may seek to belittle our European commitments and

objectives. While pressing home our views, we must avoid

an Anglo-French estrangement which could harm our

interests, both in the Community and beyond. The

Community differences are unlikely to be resolved at the

but

Summit, they can be reduced - and put into the wider

perspective of our common interests.

The same goes for

the bilateral irritants, which must not be allowed to set

the tone of the Summit.

6. Nor should the Summit be seen simply as a

damage-limitation exercise: there is a real need to

convince the Fench that co-operation with France remains

a major plank of our international strategy. We should

capitalise on President Mitterrand's personal attitude to

Britain. He should leave London convinced that, provided

he takes due account of UK interests, we remain ready to

do business. Since last year's Summit there has been a

bilateral

significant thickening of relations at working

level among senior officials. This needs continued

political endorsement and ecouragement. With the

Germans, there is a great deal Britain and France can do

CONFIDENTIAL