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said he was not in a strong position. Mr Rasgotra agreed but asked whether the UK could influence him. Sir Robert Wade-Gery said the High Commissioner in Colombo had had a substantial discussion with him recently on instructions. Two points of interest had emerged: his readiness, in the context of negotiations, to concede increased powers for District Councils; and his willingness to take other conciliatory steps if the Tamils would give up their demand for Eelam. Mr Rasgotra said that if there were any further oppressive ection by the Sri Lankan authorities there might be a massive reaction, with the Tamils in effect partitioning the country by concentrating in the north.
Would the Sri Lankan economy be able to cope with this? It was essential to keep up the momentum of talks. The Indians were quite certain that a positive conclusion could emerge. Sir Robert Wade-Gery said that President Jayewardene needed above all the formal aband- onment by the TULF of their secessionist claim. Mr Rasgotra said that parties might have their platforms, but in talking to Mr Parthasarathy the TULF had not insisted on secession. He did not understand why the President was fighting shy of a return visit by Mr Parthasarathy, just because a couple of Sri Lankan Ministers were taking a hard line. Sir Julian Bullard said that we hoped the Indians would keep up their efforts and continue to use their influence. He suggested, and Mr Rasgotra agreed, that our exchanges on Sri Lanka should be kept very confidential by both sides.
Japan and Korea
6. Sir Julian Bullard said he had been struck during his visit to Tokyo three weeks ago by the advance of Japanese diplomacy. In the past couple of years the Japanese had developed a much more world-wide prospective, and their diplomacy was now well informed and more sharply focussed. He had been impressed by the Japanese officials (Mr Matsunaga and Mr Nakajima) with whom he had dealt. He wondered whether the Indians had also had regular discussions with the Japanese. He thought it useful to keep in touch with them. There was a residual danger that Japan might relapse into self-absorbed neo-nationalism. Mr Rasgotra asked whether the Tanaka affair would cause difficulties for the Government. Sir Julian Bullard said that he had been impressed by Mr Nakasone's firm positions on international affairs; for dealing with security and peace which went well beyond previous Japanese positions. He had also been interested to see Korea for the first time and had found his talks there useful. Mr Rasgotra said that the late Korean Foreign Minister had been a popular and successful Minister in Delhi. Trade between India and Korea had advanced dramatically, to $1 billion now; and he thought that $1 billion was achievable in the next couple of years. Mr Samuel asked whether President Chun's cancelled visit would be reinstated before too long. Mr Rasgotra confirmed that it would.
Williams- example, his readiness to sign documents at burg
7.
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On Iran/Iraq, Sir Robert Wade-Gery asked whether the Indians were corried about the possible closing of the Straits of Hormuz.
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/Mr Rasgotra
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