5. Already we have made some slight but significant
progress.
My own visits to Budapest and Moscow were
just two in a growing number of direct contacts.
My
rt. hon. and learned Friend, the Foreign Secretary,
has over the course of the past year succeeded in
establishing a pattern of communication with Mr
Gromyko. At a time when greater mutual understanding
is needed, that in itself is a considerable
achievement.
And it offers a framework for moving
forward to reduce the tensions between us.
6. In the same spirit, we welcomed Mr Gromyko's
acceptance of President Reagan's invitation to go to
Washington last September. That meeting was an
important step forward. The President made quite clear
his commitment to continue the search for better
relations. The Soviet official response to the meeting
was careful. It did not rule out the possibility of
closer superpower relations and of arms control
negotiations.
I hope that the Russians have concluded
that it is time to be more forthcoming.
1.
As we turn to the year ahead, I see grounds for
guarded optimism. I hope and believe that in 1985 we
shall at last see real growth in the range and quality
of dialogue between East and West. To hope for more
than that in the next twelve months may be premature:
but we shall continue to stress the need for
3
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