TNAG-1297-FCO40-1652-Visit-by-Sir-Geoffrey-Howe--Secretary-of-State-for-Foreign-a-1984 — Page 307

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Far Eastern Department

25 January 1984

Sir S Giffard, c/o Heads of

Mission Section POD

Mr Donald

Mr Crowe, ECD(E)

Mr Clift, HKD

SECRETARY OF STATE'S VISIT TO THE FAR EAST

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1. My submission and draft of 24 January on this subject is on its way to you. May I offer an after-thought?

2. I was told on the telephone this afternoon by Mr Whitehead, the Minister in Tokyo, that the Japanese have been pressing for a change in the dates which have been arranged for Mr Tebbit to visit Japan (10-15 May). The Japanese now realise that these dates will conflict with visits by the Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, and perhaps more importantly the President of the European Commission Monsieur Thorn. The Japanese have suggested a number of other dates, but Mr Whitehead has so far held firm. However one of the Japanese suggestions now seems to be a serious candidate; this is that Mr Tebbit should visit Japan in the week before Easter, that is between 15 and 20 April, in contin- uation of a visit which he has been planning to make to the United States ending on the West Coast on 13 April. A visit in this week would not clash with the revised plans for Sir Geoffrey Howe to visit Japan in the following week, perhaps on 25-27 April.

3. I have discussed this proposal informally with officials in the DTI who see some advantage in avoiding a clash with Monsieur Thorn. Before submitting formally however they would like to know whether it has been formally agreed that Sir G Howe will be altering the planned dates for his visit to 25-27 April, and whether Sir G Howe has any objection to an even closer succession of visits than had been originally planned. In the circumstances I think that to have two Cabinet Ministers visiting Japan in successive weeks is probably just acceptable, and the Embassy in Tokyo agree. I should be grateful if you could consult the Secretary of State on this.

Mark Shift

M Elliott

Far Eastern Department

25 January 1984

Mr. Howe

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