LASI KELW
VDWF G C14/14
LOW
703/14
FCO (DESKSY 1410002)
00 SECUL
GR 300
CONFIDENTIAL
FM TOKYO 1403002 JAN TO IMMEDIATE FCO
TELNO 30 OF 14 JAN 34
INFO IMMEDIATE SEOUL
FOR FED
FED
TAED
f
PROTELL HICK 027/2
MED
REL
PS Pubs. R DONALD
ADVANCE COPY
IMMEDIATE Re
ASTRY
19 JAN 1934
16/1
SEOUL TELNO 14 : PROPOSED VISIT BY SECRETARY OF STATE
WE HAVE CONSIDERED THIS CAREFULLY. IF THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS TO ARRIVE IN SEOUL DURING THE MORNING OF 19 APRIL HE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE AN EARLY START FROM THE EMBASSY HERE, EVEN IF HE WERE TO FLY IN HIS OWN PLANE FROM HANEDA. THIS WOULD INEVITABLY SHORTEN HIS PROGRAMME IN JAPAN FURTHER AND LEAVE VERY LITTLE TIME FOR MORE THAN THE MOST ESSENTIAL BUSINESS. IT WOULD NOT THEREFORE BE IDEAL. HOWEVER THE MFA HAVE SO FAR BEEN PREPARED TO HOLD 13 APRIL FREE FOR THE FORMAL DISCUSSIONS ETC WITH MR ABE AND ON THIS BASIS THE PROGRAMME HERE COULD STILL JUST BE MANAGEABLE.
IN THE NOPHAL WAY WE WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THE SECRETARY OF STATES PRESS CONFERENCE (AND BRIEFING OF THE BRITISH PRESS) TOGETHER WITH THE BRIEFING OF EC AMBASSADORS TO HAVE TAKEN PLACE NEAR THE END OF THE VISITS IE DURING THE MORMING OF 19 APRIL. IF THIS IS NOT TO BE POSSIBLE WE WOULD HAVE TO PROPOSE THAT THE PRESS CONFERENCE RE HELD IN THE LATE AFTERNOON OF 18 APRIL, AFTER THE AFTERNOON SESSION OF FORMAL DISCUSSIONS, AND THAT IF NECESSARY THE EC BRIEFING BE GIVEN BY THE AMBASSADOR.
I HOPE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE ME VERY EARLY CONFIRMATION OF DATES. THE MFA IS WARNING US OF THE INCREASING PRESSURES ON THEM FOR 19 APRIL AND THEIR NEED TO FINALISE THE POSITION QUICKLY
CORTAZZI
NITIN
8
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