TNAG-1256-FCO40-1589-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 145

VUAJ AJAYA AKAN

in the region and maintaining political stability and generally pro Western attitudes. The Conference provided an excellent opportunity to meet senior figures from all the island states and many of the bilateral meetings in the margins seemed to be very wonthwhile I think it was useful, for example, to alert the Deputy, Prime Minister of Vanuatu to the dangers of flirting with Cuba. island representatives were gratified by the presence of a British

ter and several expressed their appreciation in the plenary sessions of the Conference.

The

There are great disparities of wealth and economic potential in egion but there are good trading opportunities for Britain in Som of the islands. The former US Trust Territories, for exampl

are receiving generous independence settlements. The President of phosphate-rich Nauru responded reasonably positively to my suggestion that he should consider investment in Britain (although he volunteered that he took a poor view of the Crown Agents). It was encouraging to see a group of British businessmen (IPSECO, Morgan Grenfell and British Aerospace) active in the margins of the conference.

4A Australian attitudes to Britain, whilst changing, remain complex. Some lament - and even apologise for the weakening of commercial, cultural and other links with the United Kingdom whilst for others a degree of hostility towards this country appears to be an essential ingredient of their own nationalism. Australians seem better able to accept the economic problems they face if they hear bad news from Begin – which at least some of the Australian journalists in London Britain are very ready to supply. I took every opportunity of speeches and press interviews to propagate a much more positive view of our affairs and this should clearly form a major element in future ministerial visits. Meanwhile our posts in Australia should be alert to possi- bilities for active information work.

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5M Hawke was friendly and forthcoming during our meeting. His attitude to CHOGM seemed very close to ours for example on the need for more informality and disagreement with Mr Muldoon's proposals for a new Bretton Woods. His recent decision on admitting sportsmen with South

African links has also brought Australian policy on the Gleneagles agreement back into line with that of Britain and New Zealand. Mr Hawke looks forward to meeting the. Prime Minister and developing a good working relationship with her. (Mr Doug Anthony, leader of the National Party and formerly Deputy Prime Minister under Malcolm Fraser also stressed to me the importance of Mrs Thatcher. and Mr Hawke getting on well together,)

6. Mr Hawke has achieved a remarkable dominance of the Australian political scene in his brief leadership of the ALP, largely by his skilful use of the media. Some commentators on the Right even regard him as a stronger bulwark against the Socialist Left extremists who """ are gaining ground in the ALP than would be a Liberal government under Andrew Peacock, In the area of foreign policy his main concession to the Left has been his acquiescence in the flirtation with Vietnam He has, in effect, held firm to the ANZUS relationship, resisted pressure to end uranium mining and largely kept changes on nuclear and disarmament policies to cosmetics and rhetoric.

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CONFIDENTIAL