TNAG-1256-FCO40-1589-Third-countries-and-the-future-of-Hong-Kong-1983 — Page 9

CONFIDENTIAL

1

The Pacific

12. The Japanese seemed extremely worried about Soviet meddling in the Pacific but showed, in Australian and New Zealand eyes, a remarkable ignorance about the area. The Australians gave a presentation on Soviet intentions in the Pacific whose basic premise was that the area was a low priority for the Russians, though they did have some specific targets and intentions. The Japanese were unconvinced and cited as evidence the accrediting of the Cuban Ambassador in Tokyo to Vanuatu.

•

13. There was a discussion with the Australians on the concept of a South Pacific Nuclear Free Zone, to which the Japanese said they were not opposed in principle, but had objections in practice because it would prohibit the ocean dumping of low level nuclear waste. The Australians were unsympathetic and urged them to abandon, their plans for ocean dumping.

Middle East

14. The discussions on the Middle East ran along entirely predictable lines. The Japanese thought it unlikely that the Iranians would try to block the Straits of Hormuz. They considered both the Iraqi and Iranian leaderships dangerously isolated and ill-informed and believed they had a role in convincing them of the realities of the situation.

CONFIDENTIAL