TNAG-1338-FCO40-1770-Visit-by-Margaret-Thatcher--UK-Prime-Minister--to-Beijing-fo-1984 — Page 8

CONFIDENTIAL

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THEN. YOU SHOULD NOT, HOWEVER, GO BEYOND THE LINE IN PARA 3(B) ON THIS. OUR ESSENTIAL CONCERN NOW IS TO REASSURE HOST

GOVERNMENTS OF THE IMPORTANCE THE PRIME MINISTER CONTINUES TO

ATTACH TO HER VISIT TO SOUTH EAST ASIA WITHOUT TYING OURSELVES

DOWN ON DATES.

5. AGAIN FOR YOUR OWN INFORMATION ONLY, YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THE PRIME MINISTER TOLD PRESIDENT JAYEWARDENE, WHILE ATTENDING MRS GANDHI'S FUNERAL, THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO VISIT

SRI LANKA AT EASTER. THERE MIGHT BE SOME RISK OF A LEAK FROM

COLOMBO. IF YOU AND OTHER ADDRESSEES IN ASEAN POSTS SHOULD BE

A SKED BY HOST GOVERNMENTS ABOUT THIS YOU SHOULD STICK TO THE

LINE AT 3(B) ABOVE ADDING THAT A FINAL DECISION ON TIMING AND ITINERARY HAS YET TO BE TAKEN AND WOULD, OF COURSE, BE CONSIDERED

IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PRIME MINISTER'S COMMITMENTS AS A WHOLE.

6. IF YOU ARE APPROACHED BY THE LOCAL MEDIA ABOUT THE PRIME

MINISTER'S PLANS TO VISIT SOUTH AND SOUTH EAST ASIA YOU SHOULD

SAY THAT THE PRIME MINISTER HOPES TO TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO

VISIT IN 1985 AND DECLINE TO BE DRAWN FURTHER.

8. FOR COLOMBO: IF ASKED YOU MAY SAY THAT THE PRIME MINISTER

REGRETS THAT SHE CANNOT YET GIVE PRESIDENT JAYEWARDENE PRECISE

DATES FOR THE VISIT AT EASTER, BUT HOPES TO DO SO IN THE

NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE.

HOWE

LIMITED

HEAD/HKD

HEAD/FED

HEAD/SEAD

HEAD/SAD

PS

PS/MR LUCE

PS/PUS

SIR W HARDING MR WILSON

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CONFIDENTIAL

COPIES TO:-

SIR P CRADOCK